Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: Flex on December 22, 2018, 08:34:27 AM
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To be updated..
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Cunupia ready for Pro League plunge.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
CUNUPIA FC are seeking to take the plunge and enter the Pro League as early as next year, according to its coach Michael De Four.
Cunupia had a productive 2018 TT Super League season, winning the League Cup last Sunday courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Queen’s Park and placing fourth in the League on 45 points, behind FC Santa Rosa, Queen’s Park and Prison Service.
And De Four is hopeful his team will be able to meet the registration fee (this year’s fee for a club interested in the Pro League was $130,000) and participate in the highest level of club football in T&T.
“We would like to get in the Pro League as soon as (next) year,” said De Four, during an interview on Thursday. “We have shown consistency, discipline, good management ability as a club.”
He continued, “We want a challenge to be able to compete at the highest level in this country and showcase our talent so the national coach will have an easier viewing of us. It’s that kind of aspiration that we have as a club. That can only be done by performing at the highest level.”
De Four, who has been head coach of Cunupia FC since its existence, believes he can bring something new to the table.
Asked about the players’ mood since Sunday’s League Cup triumph, De Four said, “Everybody is just elated still. It’s the first major title any Super League club from the Central Zone has lifted in the Super League and it’s the first title in the Super League that we have lifted – and we’ve lifted it in a two-year period.
“We did the same thing when we were in the Championship Division,” he added. “This year we placed fourth (in the League) and lifted a title.”
De Four took part in a coaching course in Brazil two years ago at Cruzeiro and he has been using what he learnt at the popular South American club to good effect.
“The key to the team’s success will be philosophy and the style of football that we’re trying to develop,” he said. “Over the last two years, we’ve fine-tuned a little and it has started to bear fruit.”
He added, “There is always room for improvement which I am working on presently. I was supposed to go to Spain this year but was asked by the president of the club (Narvin Charles) to defer the move until a later date.”
Striker Kevon Woodley has been a key member of his team’s success as he notched 23 goals this season.
But De Four, who has been at Cunupia FC for the past decade, insists the team does not revolve around the ex-national beach soccer striker.
“A player or players of his calibre, at the end of the day, have to be able to play within the style of system (of the team). Even if you are ‘a big player’, if you cannot have that discipline to play in this system you wouldn’t be able to play on the squad – no matter who you are.
“You might have noticed Woodley has been moving away from the post-up, go-to role, and in such doing has been blowing past everyone in the goalscoring (charts). He is playing within the system.”
Cunupia FC achievements:
2012-
Ramsingh Sports World CFA Trophy – Winner
Chaguanas Borough Corporation CFA Hugo Francis Memorial Cup – Winner
CRIL CFA Premier League – Runner-up
TTFA National FA Trophy – Quarter-finalist
CFA Award Recipients – Coach of the Year and Team of the Year
SPORTT Spirit of Sport Award Recipient – Community Team of the Year
2013 –
Sanitank CFA League Cup – Winner
CRIL CFA Premier League – Runner-up
Ramsingh Sports World CFA FA Trophy – Third-place
2014 –
CRIL CFA Premier League – Winner
Chaguanas Borough Corporation CFA Hugo Francis Memorial Cup – Winner
Ramsingh Sports World CFA FA Trophy – Winner
CFA Award Recipients – Coach of the Year and Team of the Year
2015 –
CNG NGC National Super League Championship Division – Third-place
2016 –
CNG NGC National Super League Championship Division – Champion
2017 –
TT Super League, League One – Third place
2018 –
TT Super League – Fourth place
TT Super League, League Cup – Winner
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Phillips: Let's do away with Pro League.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
"Let's revert to National League football," said Sam Phillips, former T&T Pro League chairman, yesterday.
He believes it's a temporary solution to the ongoing problems being faced in the country's struggling Pro League which has been totally dependant on government through the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Sports Company of T&T for survival.
Speaking to Guardian Sports on Friday, Phillips, who has held key managerial positions at some of the country's top football clubs, said considering the current economic environment, it will be totally unfair to ask the government to keep pumping money into the league.
Eight of the 10 clubs currently receive grants of $50,000 per month (for seven months) to help off-set cost of salaries for players and staff. Last year the government came to the rescue of the pro league with a grant of $11.1 million after complaints from a number of players that their clubs were not paying them. The league's start was also delayed by a few months because it had no cash.
But Phillips believes football organisers can return to the days when there was one national league comprising of different divisions.
"It can be called Division One, Two, Three or Four, with the option of using the present pro league as the top division, and players will have the option to work and play if they want. The main thing is that there will not be the responsibility by clubs to pay players," Phillips said.
"They can even use the same organisers of the different competitions to run the affairs of various divisions, for example, organisers of the T&T Super League can be responsible the Division Two competition while those in charge of Regional Association football will manage at the third division and so on."
Phillips has highlighted a number of reasons for the pro league and clubs' inability to be self-sustainable and they include the quality of play on the field which has been severely impacted by the attitude, behaviour and indiscipline of players and their management teams alike. To drive home his point, Phillips said the dress code and deportment of some managers/coaches during matches have left much to be desired.
Phillips said he has also encountered situations where some pro league players were seen representing amateur clubs at minor leagues which confuses supporters of seeing them play for free at one time and having to pay to see them, at another.
Phillips said if there is a return to the National League system, it will give clubs and organisers sufficient time to put a professional league format in place for the future, saying there can be consultation among all the stakeholders in the sport before a real professional league is introduced.
"Clubs will get the opportunity to secure its own home grounds and do what is necessary at the community level to be sustainable. They can also focus on becoming compliant according to the TTFA and FIFA regulations," Phillips said.
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Guys, Sam was a team mate of mine on the 1974 team. I did not always agree with him, especially when he was with Jack. But he makes sense here. Reorganize the football. When they are on secured footing with serious sponsors(very wishful thinking) then they can venture back into the pro-system.
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http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=818.msg4682#msg4682
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Been saying it for a while - the Professional status is now a chain around the clubs' neck. I know we want player to be able to dedicate 100% and that is what's best for them Long Run in their development, but that's not feasible if they can't put food on their families' plates and if they earn more playing fete matches.
Better to have a competitive semi-pro league with good attendance and promotion/relegation that ensures a competitive league and a sense of worth in our players. It's no surprise we had the first non-trini final for ages in the Caribbean Club Championship - Dominican Republic and Jamaica are paying their players and until we can offer the same security we need to go back to basics.
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North East Stars sue Pro League
By Walter Alibey (T&T Pro League)
North East Stars, the 2017 T&T Pro League champions are taking legal actions against the League.
A pre-action protocol letter was sent to the League yesterday, a week after the 'Stars' was suspended along with three other clubs- Police FC, Point Fortin Civic and Morvant Caledonia United for their failure to pay an annual $130,000 registration fee each which was due last season and another similar this year (2019).
At a meeting of the Board last week the quartet could not come up with the required $260, 000 which was needed to be paid by December 31, 2018.
Guardian Sports learnt that both Caledonia United and Police FC are still attempting to renegotiate a payment plan with the League to secure their entry, while Point Fortin, it is understood will miss out this year as they are unable to make the total payment.
Richard Fakoory, Chairman of the T&T Pro League said the clubs were allowed to make payments of $50,000 monthly until December 31 last year, with the intention of clearing off the balance of their debt by February 2019.
"Morvant Caledonia, Police and Point Fortin have made payments to date, but the North East club has not paid a single cent," Fakoory said, noting the League is expected to make a final decision soon.
The 'Stars' meanwhile will be taking legal proceedings against the League for its failure to honour an agreement to pay them $1,000,000 that represent their winnings for the 2017 season, which was expected to be used to cover its expenses, including the registration fees for both years.
North East Stars in their pre-action protocol letter from Attorney Barrie R. N, challenged a release by the League on November 7 last year, which stated the club was entitled to pay all its administrative fees as there were no prize monies to be had. The 'Stars' refuted this however and pointed to the minutes of the July 2017 meeting in which the participating clubs were told that prize monies were put on hold.
According to North East Stars, "The highlighted text is incorrect, as there is no resolution of the Board of Directors to the effect that Pro League Limited would no longer pay prize money to the Champions of the League. I am advised that you seek to rely on an innocuous statement in the July 27, 2017 Board minutes, which provided that 'the 2017 prize monies will be put on hold."
"Concerning this, and at best, “on hold” means the obligation of Pro League Limited to make a cash payment to the League’s champions will be deferred to a date to be determined. At worst, “on hold” means that any Board discussions pertaining to the issue of the payout of prize money to the eventual Champion of the 2017 League will be deferred."
"What is clear, however, is that “on hold” does not mean by any contortion of the English language that the entitlement of the Champion to receive prize money (or drawdown in lieu thereof) had been terminated. Specifically, a decision to the effect that winners of the League are not entitled to prize money must be stated in clear and unambiguous terms and, in any event, cannot be made after the season had commenced and Clubs had already relied upon the promise to pay to their detriment by investing considerable time and money in the development of their teams with their “eyes” on the literal “prize”.
Mike Awai, the 'NE Stars' Technical Director said the team, which was taken over from the previous owner Darryl Mahabir, agreed to play in the League based on an agreement made on or around 2014, that prize monies would be raised to $1,000,000 in order to attract and encourage greater participation in the League.
His lawyers noted, "In consideration of Pro League Limited’s promise to pay the prize money, football clubs have agreed too, to participate in the League, and Pro League Limited has derived several benefits therefrom, inclusive of the receipt of financial sponsorships."
Meanwhile, Fakoory said all clubs agreed that the 2017 season would have had no prize monies, and noted that Mahabir, who represented the club at the time, had agreed also. He believes Awai and company who took over the club last year, have misinterpreted what was meant by 'on hold.'
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So what they starting the Pro League with? We'll have W Conn as the only semi-pros, The Forces as part of their day job, Rangers will field the local primary school, and Sando will walk into an unholy mess. Is this what they wanted in a "professional" league?
Gut the whole structure, the leagues won't manage their finances until they have some actual accountability from the teams that are part of it.
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When youth pro league supposed to start? Or I guess that is wholly dependent on if there is a pro league?
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Maybe the Pro League will learn a lesson from this experience that it is trodding with North East Stars. Seems to be an entirely avoidable episode.
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Fakoory off! Rangers move from St Ann’s to La Horquetta; Stars explain case against Pro League
Lasana Liburd, Friday 18 January 2019
https://wired868.com/2019/01/18/fakoory-off-rangers-move-from-st-anns-to-la-horquetta-stars-explain-case-against-pro-league/
Another tumultuous pre-season lies ahead but interim chairman Richard Fakoory vows that the Pro League will go ahead in 2019, although he will view the competition from a considerably different vantage point.
For the first time, Fakoory will be not among the club owners for the local top flight competition this season, as he confirmed that he has sold the St Ann’s Rangers Football Club.
Fakoory told Wired868 that he was bought out by Richard Ferguson, who negotiated on behalf of local pest control company, Terminix Trinidad. And, after four decades in St Ann’s, Rangers are now heading to La Horquetta in east Trinidad.
“Richard Ferguson bought my club and is taking it to La Horquetta,” said Fakoory. “He wants me to stay on as chairman and I will stay on as long as I feel comfortable… But [Terminix] is the 100 percent owner.”
Fakoory, who expects to be replaced as Pro League chairman soon, said he became disenchanted with the negativity around the sport and the lack of support from businesses in St Ann’s. He feels he has done his part.
“I started in football with youth teams between 1978 and 1980,” he said. “We went from youth football to the savannah, to semi pro to professional; but has football reached where I wanted it to? No.
“Football in Trinidad is in a mess; in fact, all sporting disciplines are in a mess—financially and administratively. We can’t seem to get it together, so people can just enjoy sport.
Read More: https://wired868.com/2019/01/18/fakoory-off-rangers-move-from-st-anns-to-la-horquetta-stars-explain-case-against-pro-league/ (https://wired868.com/2019/01/18/fakoory-off-rangers-move-from-st-anns-to-la-horquetta-stars-explain-case-against-pro-league/)
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It'd be amazing to get local football in La Horquetta, especially if they do renovate the local grounds. Cautiously optimistic
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Sadly. Just like. The country....or more to the point, mirroring the country....T&T football gone thru
There is no saving it. No chance of redemption. It is what it is.
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I endorse the pessimism.
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I think it is a good move. Central St. George(St. Joseph to Trincity) don’t have a pro team. So that is good for that region and La Horquetta. East Port of Spain lost, East Trinidad gain. Good luck. I hope the fans come out and support them.
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Pro League changes Board structure
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)
A new Board structure of the T&T Pro League, designed to improve the sport's governance, will be introduced this year.
Riding on the recommendations of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to review the Board's composition and include independent personnel, the League has agreed to change its current Board format to include representatives of the top three clubs; reps from a fourth team to be decided; a member of the parent T&T Football Association and two independent representatives, of which one is expected to be from government.
It will replace the existing format that sees a member from each team in the pro league making up the Board of Representatives.
Richard Fakoory, Chairman of the T&T Pro League said a decision has already been made to follow the UEFA format, and he noted there is unlikely to be any squabble from competing clubs, as UEFA-run competitions are the most successful run in the world.
Uefa officials are set to return to T&T next Wednesday following their initial visit in September last year, and they will receive, in documented form, evidence the new pro league format will be put in place.
With the change, however, the pro league could potentially see a new board of representatives each year, as it is unlikely that the top three clubs would finish in that order consistently. Yesterday Fakoory told Guardian Media Sports "Change in the League is needed and I am forsee something very positive. I can admit that in the current system, we have club reps attending meetings with their own agenda and this prevented a positive way forward sometimes, so we will try the new system and see how it will work out."
Uefa's recommendations also included a new football structure that will impact competitive football in every league in the country, such as the pro league, T&T Super League, the Regional Association leagues and other competitions.
Jamaal Shabazz, founder and manager of pro league campaigner Morvant Caledonia United said he is excited about this change as the level of competition in all the leagues across T&T will be enhanced.
Other changes recommended by the UEFA include- Uniting the football family in T&T: Allowing TTFA to actively assist the running of the pro league: Tender process for new season match venue: Decision on whether the pro league will sit under the TTFA or stay as a separate entity: TTFA to centralise and lead football in T&T: and Recruitment of full-time staff in the sport.
It also recommended- Verifying that all clubs are compliant with the FIFA: The implementation of a digital football registration system by the TTFA: and Designing and creating new pro league brand and marketing campaign.
Fakoory said his Board is still to hold discussions on some of the other recommendations, but he will not favour the pro league being managed by the football association. "We can take advise from them as we are accustomed but I do not believe we should allow the TTFA to run our affairs in the pro league," the St Ann's Rangers boss explained.
The pro league is set to kick off in early April, but it is unsure of how many clubs will be participating as clubs are still struggling to make the $130, 000 registration fee for entry. Fakoory said when the clubs are decided they league will choose its board. He noted the board will also deal with the formation of committees recommended by the UEFA for areas such as marketing, finance and fixtures etc.
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Allowing TTFA to actively assist the running of the pro league:
Honestly!!!!! That organization can't even run themselves and they are being allowed to run the entitties below them. Allowing DJW to bully the weaklings!!!!! To accumulate power. :cursing: :banginghead: >:( :frustrated:
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Allowing TTFA to actively assist the running of the pro league:
Honestly!!!!! That organization can't even run themselves and they are being allowed to run the entitties below them. Allowing DJW to bully the weaklings!!!!! To accumulate power. :cursing: :banginghead: >:( :frustrated:
Just this - DJW's priority is to waste all their money on vanity projects while thier league and NT die on the vine. Why the hell would you let the fox into the hen house?
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Fakoory off! Rangers move from St Ann’s to La Horquetta; Stars explain case against Pro League.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Another tumultuous pre-season lies ahead but interim chairman Richard Fakoory vows that the Pro League will go ahead in 2019, although he will view the competition from a considerably different vantage point.
For the first time, Fakoory will be not among the club owners for the local top flight competition this season, as he confirmed that he has sold the St Ann’s Rangers Football Club.
Fakoory told Wired868 that he was bought out by Richard Ferguson, who negotiated on behalf of local pest control company, Terminix Trinidad. And, after four decades in St Ann’s, Rangers are now heading to La Horquetta in east Trinidad.
“Richard Ferguson bought my club and is taking it to La Horquetta,” said Fakoory. “He wants me to stay on as chairman and I will stay on as long as I feel comfortable… But [Terminix] is the 100 percent owner.”
Fakoory, who expects to be replaced as Pro League chairman soon, said he became disenchanted with the negativity around the sport and the lack of support from businesses in St Ann’s. He feels he has done his part.
“I started in football with youth teams between 1978 and 1980,” he said. “We went from youth football to the savannah, to semi pro to professional; but has football reached where I wanted it to? No.
“Football in Trinidad is in a mess; in fact, all sporting disciplines are in a mess—financially and administratively. We can’t seem to get it together, so people can just enjoy sport.
“Before sport used to be about passion but these days when you talk to players, the first thing you hear is ‘what you paying me? and everybody is always bickering.’ It is sickening.
“I think I am still going to give it a couple more years to see if I can help and then that’s it.”
Neither Fakoory nor Ferguson would say how much was paid for Rangers—who finished second from bottom in the 10 team standings last season—although the latter stressed that he was only a director of the owners, Terminix Trinidad.
Ferguson’s impression of the state of local football is just as gloomy as Fakoory’s; but the former man thinks he has a solution.
“Professional football in Trinidad now is poor and doesn’t make any money,” Ferguson told Wired868. “When you go to a Pro League game, there is no crowd or support; however if you go to a minor league game, the ground is full with close to 4,000 people watching players who can’t even make the bench of a Pro League team.
“The crowds won’t leave their communities to go to the Ato Boldon Stadium [in Couva] to watch a game; but we feel if we ask men to walk out their house and pay $20, they will come.”
Rangers approached Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation with a proposal to refurbish the sport venue at Phase Two in La Horquetta. Ferguson estimated that it would cost between TT$1.3 and $1.5 million to complete the upgrade, which would include fencing, toilets and cafeteria—although they plan to use the lights already at the ground.
He said the new Rangers owners chose La Horquetta at the prompting of their head coach, Dave Quamina.
“La Horquetta has a large community and 85 percent of our players and our head coach are from there,” said Ferguson. “So there is a fan base already and the ground itself is surrounded by the housing development, which means people can walk out of their house and come to the ground.
“[…] Why is it that secondary school games could draw crowds and the league with the best players has no crowd? The higher the grade of player, the bigger should be the crowd…
“So if we can get 3,000 or 4,000 people watching the game on a Friday evening, we will have succeeded.”
While Ferguson is upbeat, Fakoory remains frustrated by the Pro League’s financial issues. He confirmed that Flow will not renew their sponsorship of the Youth Pro League.
Flow’s departure follows similar exits by Digicel and Toyota in recent years and leaves First Citizens Bank, which bankrolls a knockout competition, as the only remaining sponsor.
Fakoory said the Pro League is in discussion with potential sponsors and hopes to raise prize money for 2019. Regardless, the top flight’s 10 member clubs were asked to pay off their registration fee of TT$130,000 for 2018 and stump up the figure upfront for the upcoming season.
Fakoory said the Pro League’s decision to start the 2018 season without receiving monies upfront from teams proved disastrous.
“I am only the acting chairman but I won’t recommend a month to month payment,” he said, “because you have to run down clubs and halfway through the season, when they decide they aren’t paying, they mess up the fixtures.”
Nearly half of the Pro League’s teams—Morvant Caledonia United, North East Stars, Point Fortin Civic and Police FC—still owe fees for 2018. Fakoory explained that those fees go to paying referees and match commissioners, office expenses and salaries for their three full-time employees: Julia Baptiste, Randy Bando and Mala Roopchand.
Morvant Caledonia and Police allegedly vowed to meet the 1 February deadline to pay off their 2018 debts and to subsequently pay their registration fee for the upcoming season. However, Civic asked for a sabbatical in 2019, as they cannot afford to take part.
Stars, who entered last season under the new managerial duo of Ryan Nunes and Michael Awai, are another story altogether. The 2017 champions, are the only club who, allegedly, have not contributed a cent to the running of the competition.
“They agreed to pay and never did last year,” said Fakoory. “And it seems that they are not even interested in contributing about which way we go. I am very disappointed in them. Awai is really troublesome.”
Last week, Awai sent the Pro League a pre-action protocol letter requesting clarification on a supposed TT$1 million cash prize that he feels Stars are due for their 2017 success—a triumph that pre-dated their takeover of the club.
Awai and Nunes are contending, based on the minutes of a Pro League board meeting in 2017, that prize money was promised to the champion club, despite numerous public statements to the contrary.
The excerpt in question from the minutes reads: “It was decided that the prize money for 2017 will be on hold…”
“By ‘hold’ we meant we were not doing any prize money and the other owners accepted it,” said Fakoory.
Awai suggested that Fakoory’s explanation was unconvinced and said he would rather hear what the High Court makes of it.
“We are contending that the minutes don’t reflect what they are saying,” Awai told Wired868. “What the minutes are saying is the prize money is on hold, not there will be no prize money for 2017, which would have been very clear if they said it.
“[…] We are just trying to determine what our rights are. Don’t tell us ‘everybody know we are struggling, so there is no prize money’. I am going with what is written.
“We are prepared to go to the High Court if it comes to that.”
Awai explained that, if Stars triumph in court, they would expect the Pro League to offset their registration fees with their winnings as they have done for Central FC. But they are prepared to accept the court’s decision either way.
“If we lose, then we have to pay but we are ready to go to court for the interpretation of that line,” he said. “We are not trying to not pay the registration. This is only one of several issues we have with the Pro League. The Pro League has no audited financial accounts for the last three years. They say they have their financial books but haven’t been able to pay for it to be audited.
“But they are a limited liability company, so they must have audited statements by law. Are they running something in a savannah? This is a big business and there is a right way of doing things and a wrong way of doing things.
“I mean how can you start a league and then in the middle of the league you are deciding whether there is prize money or not? I think [TTSL president Keith] Look Loy did it the right way, where before the season started he said there is no prize money. At least you know upfront.
“Does ‘on hold’ mean forever?”
Despite the furore and his own impending exit, Fakoory said the Pro League is still alive and growing. He pointed to the return of a UEFA delegation next week, which should help in the restructuring of the top flight’s board that, at present, comprises solely of club owners.
“UEFA asked us to change the structure of our board,” said Fakoory. “As owners, we all have our own agendas; and when we sit down in board meetings we tend to be looking at what is benefitting our club first and not what is best for the league, which is wrong.
“So we have agreed to change and the new board should have one TTFA official, two outside persons and four club owners.”
The Pro League could still have 10 clubs in 2019 too, as Fakoory said fourth placed Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) outfit, Cunupia FC, made a strong case for inclusion.
“Cunupia applied and we may allow them in the League,” he said. “A couple other clubs enquired but we haven’t heard back from them… So there is still positive news around the Pro League, which is important for local football.
“We are developing. We just want to get this trouble out of the way so we can start.”
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Clayton Morris: How could Fakoory sell St Ann’s Rangers when it wasn’t his to begin with?.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
“Contrary to what [Richard] Fakoory said, his company, Superstar, actually came on board at Rangers in the mid-1980s.
“[…] We in St Ann’s are very much concerned with the decision to move St Ann’s Rangers to La Horquetta. Who gave Mr Fakoory the rights to sell St Ann’s Rangers? What is the cost involved and how do the people of St Ann’s benefit from this move?”
In the following Letter to the Editor, former Strike Squad captain and Trinidad and Tobago National Futsal Team head coach Clayton “JB” Morris voices concern about Richard Fakoory’s sale of St Ann’s Rangers, which will now move base to La Horquetta:
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Clayton Morris and I am a former National and Rangers football player, who was asked to represent the former players of the community of St Ann’s on the sale of St Ann’s Rangers by Richard Fakoory, interim chairman of the Pro League, to Richard Ferguson and pest control company, Terminix Trinidad—due to the lack of support from businesses in St Ann’s.
Fakoory told Wired868 that he started in football with the Rangers youth teams between 1978-1980.
Rangers FC was actually founded way back in 1972. At the time, the main team in St Ann’s was West Ham. The younger players from the area, who couldn’t compete with the senior players for a spot on West Ham, would compete against each other annually as either ‘Hill Boys’ or ‘Valley Boys’ for cases of drinks.
Eventually, those young men decided to form their own team, which was coached by Ronald Alexis and organised by Oscar ‘Buggy’ Haynes, Jeffrey ‘Beppe’ Sample, Ian ‘Hardy’ Morris, Ronald ‘Eggs’ Alexis and Stanley ‘Popo’ Tindale, who were the real founders and owners of Rangers.
Rangers produced under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-19 teams during that period and I captained them all. We dominated those age groups in the North Zone Football Association.
Players at the club would purchase their own uniforms—which were red tee-shirts, dark blue pants and red socks—and print them themselves. This went on all the way to senior level. The only time we got assistance with uniforms was when we represented Defence Force in the North Zone’s Under-19 Division, as the Defence Force Youths.
Contrary to what Fakoory said, his company, Superstar, actually came on board at Rangers in the mid-1980s. Wendell “Tractor” Belgrave—the late father of Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team defender Ria Belgrave and Pro League stand-outs Josimar Belgrave and Elijah Belgrave—invited Richard Fakoory to a club meeting where he was said to be impressed with the way Rangers organised themselves despite the lack of funding.
Superstar came on board soon after and the club became known as ‘Superstar Rangers’.
This partnership boosted the players’ moral and motivated the community. The question of financial support from businesses within the St Ann’s community was not an issue then as Superstar was in control, as title sponsor.
A few years ago, we were told that the Superstar name was dropped from the team as Pro League teams were asked to be associated with their communities and one of the criteria for government funding was that teams had to be unsponsored. So the club became St Ann’s Rangers.
In recent times, Rangers have struggled to get proper training and playing facilities which forced sessions to be held at the Queen’s Park Savannah. Talented youths from the St Ann’s community were demotivated by this move—they felt the ‘vibes’ around the side had gone—and the result eventually became a Rangers team that was almost totally filled with ‘outsiders’.
We in St Ann’s are very much concerned with the decision to move St Ann’s Rangers to La Horquetta. Who gave Mr Fakoory the rights to sell St Ann’s Rangers? What is the cost involved and how do the people of St Ann’s benefit from this move?
I have over twenty years working experience as a corporate communication assistant at Petrotrin, which sponsored various community sports and cultural groups. When we sponsored the Phase II Pan Groove, it was the Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove; but when the contract ended, Petrotrin moved on and Phase II Pan Groove kept its name.
So how is it that a sponsor—Fakoory’s Superstar—became seen as the owner of the club it came on board with, as happened with Rangers? How can Fakoory sell something he never bought in the first place?
What will become of the St Ann’s youths whose passion is to become a Trinidad and Tobago national player like Sheldon Bateau, Belgrave or myself?
We, the former members/players of the community of St Ann’s who were provided the grand opportunity to excel by Rangers FC, hope and pray that some consideration be given towards the continued development of the youths of our community.
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Drama!
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I new of Superstar, but did not know of sponsorship arrangements. Court case on the horizon.
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I new of Superstar, but did not know of sponsorship arrangements. Court case on the horizon.
On the face of it, nothing for Fakoory to lose sleep over.
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The real source of the US$2 million windfall for Pro League and TTSL; plus what clubs stand to make.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams announced a US$2 (TT$13.5) million cash injection for the local Pro League and Super League competitions on Monday morning, in what is likely to be the last major initiative of his four year term.
But there is a catch. Roughly half of the money was already promised to the Pro League—as the figure includes the TT$6.3 million that the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago vowed to hand over to the local top flight competition in 2019 and 2020.
And much of the remainder will come from the local football body’s annual allotment of US$1.5 million (US$10.1 million) from FIFA and US$175,000 (TT$1.2 million) from Concacaf.
“The Sport Company has already committed funding for three years [to the Pro League and] there are two years that are remaining,” said One Concacaf and Caribbean Projects senior manager Howard McIntosh. “And our proposal that is on the table is that the TTFA—through the FIFA Forward Programme—use a portion of those monies specifically dedicated to projects, to support professional football.
“In addition to that, the TTFA will look at the support it receives from Concacaf as well to assign funds [to the Pro League]. So the total amount of funds is approximately US$2 million over the period of the two years.
“The general idea is to use that period to put in place a solid foundation to ensure the stability of professional football in Trinidad and Tobago.”
McIntosh and John-Williams shared the head table at the Hyatt Regency hotel with the UEFA trio of international relations head Eva Pasquier, football operations specialist Robert Pongracz and international relations project specialist Chris Milnes.
But, as Pasquier stressed, UEFA was not here to give money—only advice and expertise.
It added up to a bold final roll of the dice by John-Williams, who is up for re-election in November. Thus far, the football president’s sole self-declared achievement is the construction of the TTFA’s Home of Football in Couva, which is plagued by rumours of conflict of interest and non-transparent use of funds—whispers that he refused to put to bed by opening the accounting books for the project to board scrutiny.
At least there was a greater show of transparency yesterday. Whether there was less self-interest is debatable.
John-Williams, after all, is the owner of Pro League outfit, W Connection, which stand to benefit—along with the other top flight and second tier clubs—from the diversion of FIFA and Concacaf money into the top two local competitions.
Whether the TTFA’s six cash-strapped zonal bodies, for instance, can be won over—as well as the football body’s many creditors, including past and present coaches and technical directors—is another story.
The Pro League and Super League are the two biggest stakeholders under the TTFA’s umbrella with 10 and eight delegates respectively. However, combined, they account for just 28 of the football body’s 48 voting members.
Remarkably, the entire plan to so use TTFA finances was hatched, discussed and unveiled to the media without any input from the body mandated to run the local game, which is the football body’s board of directors.
Wired868 understands that the UEFA and Concacaf delegates were already holding meetings in Trinidad before any attempt was made to sit with the TTFA board. Nearly half of the directors snubbed the belated overtures as a result.
“The lack of proper protocol was glaring,” said TTSL president Keith Look Loy. “The UEFA/Concacaf delegation entered TTFA and held several meetings before it attempted to meet members of the board—in two groups. That failed because ninety percent of the board members refused to attend or were out of the country.
“I voiced my objection to all of this when they met the Super League on Saturday. I made the point that the TTFA board has no institutional knowledge of the mission [of the visitors] or its objective.
“They accepted that criticism and assured all that a final report and proposal would be submitted to the TTFA board.”
McIntosh admitted the lapse.
“The TTFA is in charge of protocol and should have done better; but we are working [on that],” McIntosh told Wired868. “Keith raised this point with me. The board should always be informed… The communication must be improved.”
McIntosh and Pasquier stressed that they were genuinely enthusiastic about the project, though. And although neither Concacaf nor UEFA dipped into their own wallets to help bankroll the respective leagues, the proposal hammered out after four days of meetings was an appealing one.
Last year, the Sport Company distributed TT$4.8 million to the Pro League, which was shared between eight clubs that pocketed TT$600,000 each. At the end of the season, four teams had not even paid their TT$130,000 registration fee to offset the Pro League’s administrative cost and to pay for referees.
The TTFA’s foreign guests proposed a more progressive split of money for 2019, which sees all 10 Pro League clubs—inclusive of Defence Force and Police FC—collect US$50,000 (TT$338,000) for the year and US$10,000 (TT$67,000) each for the 12 TTSL teams for that same period. The combined guaranteed payout to clubs in both divisions is US$620,000 (TT$4.2 million).
Ultimately, the two leagues will determine how many clubs get to feed from the trough; and the Pro League generally denies subventions to Defence Force and Police on the grounds that they already enjoy state funding.
“We have not decided yet [the number of teams in the Pro League],” said Pongracz, “because the more teams you play, the more you have to share and the less a club gets. So you have to decide.”
There will also be performance-based incentives. The top five Pro League clubs will bank US$50,000 (TT$338,000), US$40,000 (TT$271,000), US$30,000 ($203,000), US$10,000 (TT$67,000) and US$5,000 (TT$34,000) respectively.
In the TTSL, the top six teams stand to pocket prize money of US$20,000 (TT$135,000), US$15,000 (TT$101,000), US$10,000 (TT$67,000), US$5,000 (TT$34,000), US$3,000 (TT$20,000) and US$2,000 (TT$13,000) respectively.
The combined prize money for both competitions is US$380,000 (US$2.6 million), which, added to the guaranteed payments of US$620,000 (TT$4.2 million), creates an even US$1 million (TT$6.8 million). The format will be repeated in 2020 when another US$1 million would be spent.
Clubs will no longer be required to pay a registration fee—which should simplify the introduction of a promotion and relegation between the two competitions—and the suggestion is both competitions should be run by a centralised body under the TTFA, which will add a marketing manager and sponsorship manager to its staff.
McIntosh suggested that improving the commercial arm of the local football competitions—and teams too, through the FIFA’s club licensing programme—should bear long term fruit.
“Even if you go back [to the government for support in the future], you don’t go back for as much,” said McIntosh.
Look Loy was impressed too, although he expressed concern about the competitions being run by the TTFA. In four years under John-Williams, the local body has not even activated a single standing committee: be it disciplinary, finance, marketing or otherwise.
The TTSL never received the full US$125,000 (US$845,000) promised in 2017 and Look Loy does not look forward to having to chase the TTFA for promised money this year.
“This intervention by UEFA/Concacaf could be a good boost to our club football if properly managed,” said Look Loy. “The mechanisms of league governance and distribution and control of the finance are central to that and must suit our reality.
“What it should not be is a ‘buy out’ of our club football in order to return it to the grossly incapable hands of the TTFA, which lacks transparency and was left behind twenty years ago by both the TTPL and the Super League (NSL and TTSL).
“Ultimately, I expect the TTFA board will have to approve all of this, and the UEFA/Concacaf delegates on this mission have assured us of that.”
McIntosh and Pasquier stressed that the final decisions lie with local football stakeholders.
“I repeat, emphasise, [this is a] proposal,” said McIntosh. “We did not come here to dictate or implement or tell anybody they are obligated to accept anything that we have presented.”
McIntosh, a Jamaican, was not shy to suggest that the initiative was an attempt to return the feel-good factor to Trinidad and Tobago’s football.
“Trinidad and Tobago [football] finds itself in a very fortunate position,” said the Concacaf official. “You have the best football infrastructure in the region. You have easily one of—if not the most supportive—government in the region, in relation to football development and contribution to the game. You have significant support from the parent bodies in football: Fifa, Concacaf, UEFA and the CFU.
“[…] You have an overly passionate president that sometimes wears his passion on his sleeve which causes its own issues, sometimes…”
I95.5Fm reporter Tony Lee, whose company continues to benefit from a secret contract from the football president, tried to wring a more effusive soundbite from McIntosh on John-Williams.
“You have spent the last week observing the operations of football in Trinidad and Tobago, how do you rate the standard of football in Trinidad and Tobago?” asked Lee. “And are you pleased with the governing body of Trinidad and Tobago?”
McIntosh took a long deliberate pause before responding.
“Well, there’s a whole lot of work to be done; a whole lot of work to be done,” he said. “On behalf of the TTFA: lots of passionate people, dedicated, committed, strong president; but needs improvement and structures, needs improvement in terms of management of certain areas.
“[…] Are there challenges? Absolutely. Are there major challenges? Yes. But as Eva mentioned earlier, where the TTFA finds itself in terms of its basic level of infrastructure in terms of technical centre, head office, home of football, you have an opportunity now with some tweaking and hard work to take immediate advantage.
“[…] We are very optimistic but it is going to take a lot of work and, to be fair to the president, I think he has been very open to the criticisms levelled and the recommendations made and has an understanding of what is required.”
John-Williams was not especially surefooted on Monday morning, either.
“I will introduce to my immediate right—he is no stranger to Trinidad and Tobago—Mr Howard McIntosh from Concacaf,” said John-Williams, as he opened the press conference.
It was then pointed out to the TTFA president that he was, in fact, seated at the extreme right of the head table and everyone else—including McIntosh—was to his left.
“I will only use the first names of the other two gentlemen (Robert and Chris),” John-Williams continued, “out of fear of not pronouncing their names properly…”
It is uncertain whether Pongracz (pronounced ‘Pon-grass’) and Milnes (not an uncommon name in Trinidad) were pleased with the fact that, after four days, the TTFA president had not bothered to learn how to pronounce their surnames.
Wired868 took the opportunity to ask John-Williams about the lack of transparency related to the Home of Football; and technical director Anton Corneal’s decision to down tools due to unpaid salaries—two issues he has studiously avoided in recent months.
Wired868: Can the football president tell us how those two issues will be dealt with?
John-Williams: Lasana, you will just have to wait and see. Okay? There is a plan in place and when there is a conversation and information on that, it will be made available.
Wired868: So the technical director has said that he has walked off the job and you’re saying we should just wait and see what happens?
John-Williams: That matter is being addressed and when that issue has been resolved, we will address it.
Wired868: And similarly what about that information [on the Home of Football] requested by board member Keith Look Loy?
John-Williams: I am sure that information requested has been presented to the general meeting; and the general meeting was very happy with the information received… Those issues have been presented to the general membership.
The TTFA president’s claim that the general membership were satisfied with the information provided on the Home of Football flew in the face of letters by several board members and stakeholders in support of Look Loy’s petition. But it was all he was prepared to say.
McIntosh tried to break the ice.
“I think we agree that football has been through a tremendous amount of turmoil in the last few years,” said the Concacaf official. “But the conversation has changed at the FIFA level, the conversation has changed at the Concacaf level; now we are talking about football.
“We want similar things to occur here in Trinidad and Tobago; a change in the conversation away from people and personality and more focus on the football.”
For now, the talk is likely to revolve around financial figures as stakeholders discuss the money proposed for the Pro League and TTSL and what it might mean for local football’s other projects and creditors.
Curiously, when asked to give more information on the funding available for the management of the Home of Football, Pasquier pointed to the FIFA grants of US$1 million for operating expenses and US$500,000 for capital projects.
Did that mean that John-Williams might have used money meant for the day to day operation of local football for the construction of the Home of Football? And, worse, without even disclosing to his board the contractors used and financial decisions made for the project?
And, if the Home of Football was built using funds that might have gone elsewhere, what did that mean for his claims that its construction did not impact on the finances of the cash-strapped local football body?
It is unlikely that all stakeholders would be prepared to avert their gaze from the controversial TTFA president until such questions are answered conclusively.
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Pro League, Super League merger?
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
For the first time in local football, money will not be a problem, but it's unsure what the structure of the country's top two Leagues will be like.
A tripartite committee comprising Julia Baptiste, the T&T Pro League representative, Keith Look Loy (T&T Super League) and Richard Piper, who represents the T&T Football Association was chosen on January 28, to chart the way forward for the two leagues based on a proposal from UEFA and CONCACAF teams last week.
The committee met for the first time on Thursday last at the T&T Olympic House in Port-of-Spain and its first assignment was to decide on whether a suggestion by the football bodies (UEFA/CONCACAF) to have one management team, under the governance of the parent TTFA, to run the affairs of the country's tier one and two competitions was feasible.
The committee is expected to submit a team that comprises a marketing team, competitions committee and a secretary to manage both tournaments, which is believed will help in ensuring the promotion and demotion of teams, as recommended.
Yesterday Baptiste said her team went through the proposals by the UEFA/CONCACAF, and a decision will only be reached after consultation with their respective members. Guardian Media Sports was informed by a reliable source that the one management team for both leagues is set to be shut down, as both the TTSL and TT Pro League want to maintain its identities and run its own competitions.
Another main contention is determining the composition of the domestic leagues. The UEFA/CONCACAF suggestion is to have 10 teams in a tier one tournament and 12 in tier two. But this would mean omitting more than half the TTSL teams, which is a cause of concern among clubs.
Baptiste said if there is a suggestion for more clubs to the competitions, then it will mean less money for participating teams as they have to share all monies given equally.
The only thing the Leagues (T&T Pro League and T&T Super League) members are sure about is that the money to run the tournaments is guaranteed.
It is understood the government has already agreed to honour UEFA/CONCACAF's proposal of a US$1 million amount to put football on stable footing, by committing $3.8 million to the cause. The rest is to be received by the FIFA Forward Programme which will come through the football association.
The committee is set to meet for a second time on February 8.
Meanwhile, the TTSL held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Queen's Park Oval yesterday to discuss the 2018 season, and plans for 2019. Some ideas for the coming season had to put on hold until all stakeholders agree on a way forward.
Guardian Media Sports was informed that clubs, disgruntled by the management of its president Look Loy, are awaiting a date of an Extraordinary General Meeting to remove him. A few days ago some clubs signed a petition and wrote to the TTSL secretariat asking for a meeting to remove Look Loy as their representative on the Board of the TTFA, as they believe he has not been representing the interests of the League.
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Shaka: Pro League designed to fail.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Former national goalkeeper, now turn ESPN Analyst, Shaka Hislop believes the structure of the T&T Pro League was designed for it to fail from the start.
Hislop comments came at the launch of the first ever Commonwealth Caribbean Sports Law book at the University Inn and Conference Centre, UWI Campus, St Augustine at which he was the keynote speaker. The lanky custodian whose exploits on and off the field have made him a household name worldwide said "I don't think the league should be scrapped but I do admit that the League has been failing, and failing for some time. The way the League was structured was always a recipe for just failure, in that clubs aren't attached close enough to their communities."
According to Hislop, "We found ourselves, in the one sense, in an enviable position of having any number of stadia that we can use and utilized, but on the other side, it proved more of a burden because in an effort to utilize the stadia, we took the teams away from their communities, and the players on the field didn't have a fan-base to call their own family."
He told the media that as an ex-player and broadcaster he is well aware of the importance of having the fan support for reasons of commercial and media backings.
Only recently UEFA officials proposed an injection of US$1 million to sort out the issues of the embattled T&T Pro league which has been financial life-support from government, through the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, and the Sports Company of T&T.
The proposal also included a recommendation for clubs to grow and live up to the responsibilities of becoming self-sustainable.
The 2019 season is set to kick off at a date to be determined in April, but organisers are still unsure of the composition of teams for the League, as some four clubs were set to be suspended for its inability to pay the registration fees for 2018 and this year, which amount to $260, 000.
Hislop said while he embraces the idea of clubs accepting responsibilities for the growth of the League, he believes this will be a challenge until they are equipped to do so. "You have to allow these clubs to serve in their communities. You have to empower these clubs to be able to make certain decisions which are sometimes unpopular, in moving their own product forward."
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Tobago team for Pro League
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)
After almost 10 years of not having a Tobago football team in the top flight T&T Pro League, this situation is set to change soon.
Yesterday Anthony Moore, president of the Tobago Football Association (TFA) admitted that all stakeholders on the islands are interested in putting forth a Tobago representative team in the league, but it will not be done until a proper business model and pathway have been worked out.
A coach has already been identified for the team, Moore said, but stakeholders are contemplating an appropriate name for the team.
The last Tobago team that played in the pro league was Tobago United FC which was coached by former national footballer Peter Granville. But the team was dissolved in 2011, after many unsuccessful years that saw it finish bottom of the table.
However, Moore said he wants the new team to have a philosophy and direction.
"It must not be like the old Tobago teams in the Pro League where shares were bought and it becomes a member of the TT Pro League only. Rather it must be opened to all of the Tobago people. Corporate Tobago must be able to purchase shares within the club, as well as all persons on the sister-isle, which would mean that there will be a vested interest by all to be involve and support," Moore explained.
Tobago football stakeholders are now awaiting the developments from a proposal from a UEFA/CONCACAF team recently, that could potentially change the management of the sport locally and change the names of the country's top domestic football leagues.
For this purpose a tripartite committee comprising Julia Baptiste (TT Pro League), Keith Look Loy (TT Super League) and Richard Piper (T&T Football Association) was chosen to initiate consultation and move football forward.
Moore said he and his executive await the outcome of this to determine their next step. In the meantime, however, issues such as revenue generation and travel between the islands are being worked out.
"For sure we know that money will be generated for our home matches on the island, because of the close-knit relationship among the communities. And because it will be a representative team, people with a vested interest will come out, while others will be out to rally behind the top players that exist in Tobago," Moore explained further.
He added, "We are also unsure of the format and structure of the competition, but if matches are being played at the weekend, it will also work in our favour. The team's matches will all be played at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet only. But basically, all must be on board on the sister isle."
The Pro League is set to kick off in April, considering the pace at which key decisions relating to the UEFA/CONCACAF proposal, are made.
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Cunupia FC accepted for 2019 Pro League
By Joel Bailey (T&T Newsday)
CUNUPIA FC, the 2018 TT Super League Cup champions, are expected to compete in the 2019 Pro League season.
Cunupia FC have made no secret of their intention to play in the top flight and have taken the required steps to do so.
Contacted recently, Pro League CEO Julia Baptiste said the league was expected to have an executive meeting whereby Cunupia’s application to join the top-flight local competition would be deliberated upon. That meeting was held and Newsday understands Cunupia FC have been given the green light to play in the next season.
Cunupia’s coach Michael De Four refused to confirm or deny whether his club was accepted by the Pro League executive, saying he preferred to wait for an announcement by the league’s board of directors.
“I have no comment to make about playing in the Pro League as yet,” said De Four yesterday.
Newsday understands though that Cunupia have been accepted and will play in the 2019 season once they meet the league's financial registration requirements – $130,000 plus an extra $100,000 on bond.
Last week, UEFA officials were in TT to discuss a revamping of the local league and prosed a system whereby no registration fee would be paid by clubs. It has not yet been revealed whether the Pro League will adopt the measures recommended for next season. Newsday tried to contact Baptiste yesterday but she did not answer a call to her cellphone.
De Four, while hesitant to discuss Cunupia FC's Pro League status, said he will be adding a few Brazilian players to his team for the new season. De Four said he will be tapping into links he established two years ago when he visited Brazilian club Cruzeiro FC.
“I’m looking at bringing in some Brazilians and a few local players in the squad to make the team play faster,” said De Four.
During the 2018 Super League season, Cunupia captured the League Cup after defeating Queen’s Park 2-1 in the final. And, in the league phase, they finished in fourth spot with 45 points, trailing champs FC Santa Rosa, Queen’s Park and Prison Service. De Four's Cunupia FC went unbeaten against FC Santa Rosa throughout the season.
De Four said the club was proud to represent the Central Zone and feels they've made quite a name for themselves since joining the Super League, with two titles in less than three years – the Championship title and Premiership League Cup.
In a Newsday article on December 22, De Four was quoted as saying, “We would like to get in the Pro League as soon as (this) year. We have shown consistency, discipline, good management ability as a club.
“We want a challenge to be able to compete at the highest level in this country and showcase our talent so the national coach will have an easier viewing of us. It’s that kind of aspiration that we have as a club. That can only be done by performing at the highest level.”
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Stay out, TTFA...Pro League, Super League moving ahead with merger
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)
DISCUSSIONS on merging the country’s top two football leagues—the professional TT Pro League and the semi-professional TT Super League—into one entity have begun, with the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) as the main financier. And both existing leagues would prefer the new entity to be run independently of the national governing body for the sport, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).
One of the stakeholders, TT Super League president Keith Look Loy, confirmed that discussions among a tripartite committee comprising TT Pro League CEO Julia Baptiste, himself and TTFA representative Richard Piper had already begun, although a definite time-frame for implementation was still uncertain.
"Call it what you like, a National League, the name is not important," Look Loy stated, "This presents an important opportunity for us to move toward having one league in our football again, with multiple divisions."
The new entity is to be funded to the tune of US$2 million over a period of two years. Look Loy felt the role of the Sports Company must not be understated. There are still two years left on a commitment by SporTT to fund the Pro League and it has been proposed that this money be used to fund the merged league, along with a portion of funds the TTFA obtains through the FIFA Forward Programme.
"It is a serious investment by the Sport Company and I believe they should be given credit for this. In fact, UEFA is not putting in a cent," Look Loy declared. "It is US $1million a year for two years. Of the TT $6.5 million or $6.6 million, according to the exchange rate, this year the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, via the Sport Company, is contributing $4.2 million." He continued: "We getting some monies from FIFA via what is called the Forward Programme and we getting a small contribution from Concacaf. But the big investor in all of this is the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago."
The newly-proposed entity will consist of a national league, with multiple divisions, featuring relegation and promotion. It will be governed under the auspices of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association but run independently by the league.
Look Loy felt the new arrangement was best for local football. He revealed that one of the recommendations out of the initial meeting of stakeholders was to keep league football independent of the TTFA.
"So far the two leagues are convinced that football should not return to the TTFA," said Look Loy.
He continued: "Let the TTFA run what a national association should run...national teams, development teams, education programs, grassroots. Let them do that, and league football will be run by league football."
The move to join the top local competition comes following a UEFA workshop held here two weeks ago. Recommendation was made that a pyramid system of local football should be re-established.
Robert Pongracz, a UEFA Football operations specialist made a recommendation for a system of promotion and relegation that would inspire clubs to strive for excellence and be rewarded for it.
Pongracz spoke of a proposal where monies from the FIFA subvention would be divided among the two top tier Leagues (Pro League and Super League) with two main characteristics. The first would be for there to be equal sharing among the clubs and thereby enabling clubs to plan ahead, as they would know how much they would be earning. The second would be for clubs to receive monies based on their performances.
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I invite everyone to predict the possible scenarios that could hit the headlines two years from now (and conceivably before).
I appreciate optimism more than the next guy, but ... this reads like someone in Moscow or Washington contemplating yet another attempt to subdue the Taliban and conquer Afghanistan and to achieve it within 100 days, in spite of the weight of history.
$1 million each year over two years divided by even more constituents than has been the norm? OK.
Cosmetics. And not even lipstick on a pig quality.
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If 20 clubs are in the league, that will equate to $50,000 US per club. Provided these payments are made, still don't see how it will help cover expenses these club will face during the season. Then again many clubs were operating without that type of installment so it will definitely help given other enterprises are in fact contributing.
Personally I think we need to follow the blueprint of the MLS if we're starting fresh. And most of the players may need other jobs while playing in the league.
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So what happens when a pro-team ends up last. Does it still stay up? Demoted? I also think the FA trophy winners should get a shot to play in the CFU club championships.
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Promotion/relegation is just generally a good thing for me, but the real sustainability will come when clubs are able to get gate receipts, sponsorship and merchandise from working in and with their local community. Ultimately it will allow better run clubs to get promoted while the worse ones get relegated. 50k isn't much to get the ball running on decades of under-investment, but some of the clubs are partly to blame for living off the tax payer for so long with so little in return.
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If clubs get the $50,000 subvention a month and the league runs for 8 months a club gets
$400,000
How many clubs get this ?? Maybe 8 clubs
So if 20 clubs now in a position to get US $50,000 or TT $350,000......is that not better for our football
Just asking
Think about it.....If Pheonix, Bethel or Youth Stars got that kind of money
Sorry we don't want all that money to go to Tobago
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If clubs get the $50,000 subvention a month and the league runs for 8 months a club gets
$400,000
How many clubs get this ?? Maybe 8 clubs
So if 20 clubs now in a position to get US $50,000 or TT $350,000......is that not better for our football
Just asking
Think about it.....If Pheonix, Bethel or Youth Stars got that kind of money
Sorry we don't want all that money to go to Tobago
This is the UEFA proposal - https://wired868.com/2019/01/29/the-real-source-of-the-us2-million-windfall-for-pro-league-and-ttsl-plus-what-clubs-stand-to-make/ (https://wired868.com/2019/01/29/the-real-source-of-the-us2-million-windfall-for-pro-league-and-ttsl-plus-what-clubs-stand-to-make/)
The TTFA’s foreign guests proposed a more progressive split of money for 2019, which sees all 10 Pro League clubs—inclusive of Defence Force and Police FC—collect US$50,000 (TT$338,000) for the year and US$10,000 (TT$67,000) each for the 12 TTSL teams for that same period. The combined guaranteed payout to clubs in both divisions is US$620,000 (TT$4.2 million).
Ultimately, the two leagues will determine how many clubs get to feed from the trough; and the Pro League generally denies subventions to Defence Force and Police on the grounds that they already enjoy state funding.
“We have not decided yet [the number of teams in the Pro League],” said Pongracz, “because the more teams you play, the more you have to share and the less a club gets. So you have to decide.”
There will also be performance-based incentives. The top five Pro League clubs will bank US$50,000 (TT$338,000), US$40,000 (TT$271,000), US$30,000 ($203,000), US$10,000 (TT$67,000) and US$5,000 (TT$34,000) respectively.
In the TTSL, the top six teams stand to pocket prize money of US$20,000 (TT$135,000), US$15,000 (TT$101,000), US$10,000 (TT$67,000), US$5,000 (TT$34,000), US$3,000 (TT$20,000) and US$2,000 (TT$13,000) respectively.
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Ex-Pro League boss calls on Awai to apologise.
By Jelani Beckles (Newsday).
FORMER TT Pro League chairman Sam Phillip wants a public apology from director of football at North East Stars Michael Awai, after he said Phillip and president of the TT Super League Keith Look Loy were appointed illegally.
In a T&T Guardian article yesterday, Awai said Phillip and Look Loy were illegally made members of the TT Football Association (TTFA) board at a reconvened Annual General Meeting on December 23, 2017. Awai claims Phillip and Look Loy were illegally made members of the board as decisions relating to appointments or dismissals of officers could not have been made according to Article 24, paragraph 3(Quorum of the General Meeting) of the TTFA constitution.
Awai said there needed to be a quorum at the reconvened meeting for officers to be elected.
The former Pro League chairman said, Awai is misinformed saying only in a first meeting is a quorum mandatory. “The first meeting (there needs to be a quorom), but once we reconvene you don’t need a quorom.” Phillip said in a first meeting involving the TTFA a quorum is 50 per cent plus one.
He said even if there needed to be a quorum at the reconvened meeting there was more than half of the 49-member TTFA present at the reconvened meeting.
Phillip wants an apology from Awai. “I am asking Mr Awai to correct that statement publicly, apologise to Mr Look Loy and myself by correcting that statement – he is wrong. He (Awai) is misleading the football public.”
Phillip was upset Awai was bringing his name into disrepute. “I want to remind Mr Awai – you see that word illegally – I don’t involve myself in anything illegal.”
The former TT Pro League chairman said Awai should do something for TT football. “The word illegal is a strong word and I don’t believe in illegal business in no way and I want to clear up that. I want to ask Mr Awai what has he done for football in the last ten years?”
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Good luck finding accountability in T&T football
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Awai: I said unconstitutional, not illegal
By Andrew Gioannetti & Joel Bailey (Newsday).
NORTH East Stars director of football Michael Awai says he was misrepresented in a recent newspaper article, which quoted him as saying the appointments of Keith Look Loy and Sam Phillip as members of the TT Football Association (TTFA) board of directors were done illegally.
On February 21, the Trinidad Guardian published an article, which read, "Michael Awai, Director of Football at TT Pro League campaigners North East Stars believes Keith Look Loy, President of the TT Super League was illegally appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the TT Football Association.
"The outspoken Awai, equipped with a copy of the TTFA constitution pointed to the minutes of December 23, 2017, reconvened Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the office of the National Cycling Centre (NCC) in Balmain, Couva, at which Look Loy and Sam Phillip, the former TT Pro League chairman was appointed to the Board."
Since the publication of the article, Phillip called on Awai to apologise for the accusations made in the article and to correct that.
Phillip said, “I am asking Mr Awai to correct that statement publicly, apologise to Mr Look Loy and myself by correcting that statement. He is wrong. He is misleading the football public. I want to remind Mr Awai – you see that word illegally – I don’t involve myself in anything illegal.”
Phillip said Saturday he intends to sue Awai for defamation since he failed to apologise in a timely manner.
Awai was reached by Newsday yesterday and said his comments to the Guardian reporter were misconstrued. Awai said he was not contacted by the reporter for direct comments but was quoted solely from an e-mail, in which the word "illegal" was never used. Awai said he had e-mailed the newspaper asking for the information to be corrected "so that the proper context would be established going forward."
He said yesterday, "I was just asking questions (in the e-mail). If what I said was incorrect, then fine." Awai provided Newsday a copy of the original e-mail from which he was quoted.
In the e-mail to football stakeholders, Awai wrote: "I have had the opportunity to review the minutes of the reconvened AGM of the TTFA of 23rd December 2017 held at the National Cycling Velodrome in Balmain Couva. I wish to point you to several items which will reveal that certain actions and decisions taken at that meeting were ultra-virus (sic) and unconstitutional."
He challenged decisions made at a reconvened TTFA meeting, wrongly citing a lack of quorum for his interpretation of the supposed breach. He, however, did not explicitly say "illegal" in the email provided.
"I'm just asking questions," he said.
In response to Phillip's threat of a lawsuit, Awai said, "Well he can sue if he wants, but I know what I said and the documents are there."
Phillip, during a telephone interview on Saturday, said, “In life you have a minimum of two choices, either you do something or you don’t do it. I’m using my second choice of option.
“I first asked Mr Awai to apologise and, up till this time, he has not done so. I responded within 24 hours after his article. I’m using my second option which is to seek legal advice on this matter.
Phillip said he held talks with his lawyers and will be seeking legal action this week.
He added, “I also noticed that the TTFA (TT Football Association) has been silent on this issue, moreso the vice-president Mr Ewing Davis who had chaired that meeting.”
Asked if he will give Awai more time to apologise, Phillip replied, “I’m not giving him any more time. I’m seeking legal advice at this time to proceed with a legal matter of defamation of character.”
The former Joe Public FC manager said, “Over the last four decades, in my tenure of employment, my character was never questioned. I have worked in a number of sensitive areas (in security). My character has never been blemished. Nobody has ever asked me to resign. If I did resign, it was on my own will.”
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playing with words!
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Up, up and away, yes?
On the basis of what has been reported, it seems frightfully irresponsible to have announced bringing Cunupia into the league and then now to announce that they will not be part of the league because of the UEFA consultation (which was not unanticipated and which was targeted precisely to exploring structural/operating considerations within the PL). Let no one forget this was not the consultants first visit.
Yuh know what silly asylumseeker would have done? He would have vigorously suggested incorporating Cunupia FC into the dialogue as a partner with a stake in the outcome and have them 'incentivized' as an active participant.
Unnecessarily ... this leaves the league open to questions and challenges.
Hopefully what was agreed contemplated discretion by the Pro League to change course regarding Cunupia's admission.
However, comments suggest that there was/is a lack of clarity regarding whether Cunupia would be included in receiving subvention from the GoTT ... given the history of the league, that seems to be a component that one would expect to have been defined at the time of deciding on admission to the Pro League.
Overall these initial public comments suggest a loosely constructed agreement or understanding.
Time to tidy things up
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If only there was some tried-and-tested way of having new clubs enter the league, perhaps being replaced by a team that hadn't performed well across the whole season. Oh well, let the bacchanal continue.
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Gillette is Football chairman.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Businessman Lyndsay Gillette was voted chairman of the football commission to steer T&T football into a new era. The commission was set up on the advice of FIFA/CONCACAF/UEFA officials who visited T&T to give recommendations on ways to improve the sport. One of the recommendations was to have a single management team from the super league, pro league and TTFA to oversee the management operations of a tier one and tier two football competitions.
The vote was taken at a recent meeting held among the members comprising two representatives of the T&T Pro League, two from the T&T Super League, two independents and a representative from the T&T Football Association, in Port-of-Spain.
Tony Harford of All Sports Promotions was the last independent pick for the Commission, joining Gillette, the current president of T&T Amateur Swimming Association is also an independent.
The other Commission members are Keith Look Loy and George Joseph of the TTSL, Brent Sancho of Central FC and Jamal Shabazz of Morvant Caledonia pro clubs as the two pro league representatives while Anthony Moore of the Tobago FA will be the TTFA representatives.
An earlier report stated in this newspapers had stated that Sheldon Phillips, the sacked TTFA general secretary, was tipped to be one of the independent representatives and that he was in line to become the chairman, but Phillips was only a consideration.
However, it is understood that the commission has made tremendous progress to date, as it is in the process of formulating a Memorandum of Understanding among the parties involved.
Sancho told Guardian Media Limited that the meetings have been fruitful as everyone is focused on creating the best football product from the merging of the pro league, super league and TTFA.
Sancho is also calling for suggestions for the name of the new league/leagues, although one has already been given to them.
Meanwhile, the remainder of the T&T Youth Pro League will be dedicated in honour of Richard Fakoory, a member of the Board of the T&T Pro League revealed yesterday, a day after a meeting.
Fakoory, who was chairman of the T&T Pro League, died last week Wednesday from an aneurysm which came after he had a minor surgery to fix a blockage in his abdomen at the Westshore Medical Hospital in Cocorite.
The members of the pro league were searching for a suitable way to honour him for the work he has done over the past 40 years, but on Wednesday at a pro league meeting in Port-of-Spain, it was agreed to dedicate the rest of the youth pro league in his honour, at least in the short term, the member said.
The member, who is a member of the pro league board, said further discussions will take place to find a suitable way to honour Fakoory in the long term.
So far it has been agreed that all the trophies will be named after him, apart from the youth league being dedicated to him. This he said was agreed upon unanimously as the St Ann's Rangers founder and director had committed his entire life toward youth development.
"Richard was a stickler for youth development. He truly wanted to help the young people of T&T through sports, so we felt it would have been appropriate to take this step," the member said. The meeting was also held to update its members on what was happening, and to begin discussions for a new chairman.
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‘It’s part-time footballers vs professionals!’ Lawrence talks Gold Cup, Pro League… and Peltier.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Dennis Lawrence pointed to the issues plaguing the Pro League as one possible cause for the Soca Warriors’ woeful form during his tenure.
Lawrence, whose team finished bottom of Group D at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup between the United States, Panama and Guyana, identified 2016 as the beginning of a downturn in Trinidad and Tobago’s football fortunes.
(Results tabulated as won-draw-lost-goals for-goals against)
Warriors in 2014 (9 int’nal 5-2-2 16 [F]-10 [A]):
Warriors in 2015 (12 int’nal 4-4-4 18 [F]-15 [A]):
Warriors in 2016 (15 int’nal 4-2-9 25 [F]-31 [A]):
Warriors in 2017 (16 int’nal 3-3-10 19 [F]-30 [A]):
Warriors in 2018 (6 int’nal 2-1-3 3 [F]-3 [A]):
Warriors in 2019 (6 int’nal 0-2-4 1 [F]-12 [A]):
He suggested that the reason was not so much the head coach as it was the start of the local game.
“We go to the year 2016 and I think that is when the government subvention was pulled and we start to look at the clubs starting to struggle [and] the league period getting shorter,” said Lawrence, at a press conference at the Cycling Velodrome this morning. “[…] In 2017, late subvention, then we go to 2018 and we got the same situation. Then we go to 2019, there is no league at the moment [and] I can’t even tell you when the league is going to start…
“Is it coincidence that our Pro League is suffering and our national teams’ results have started to suffer because of this? My opinion is 100 percent.”
Incidentally, the issues affecting the Pro League was not the only change to the local football ecosystem in 2016. Current Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams was elected on 30 November 2015 and 2016 was his first full year at the helm.
Notably, Trinidad and Tobago’s football results have significantly worsened at the youth and women’s level too and neither are connected in any way to the government’s Pro League subvention.
Today, Lawrence—and not John-Williams—was the man in the hot seat and, unlike the football president, he at least faced the media.
During his two and a half years in charge of the Warriors, Lawrence has played 11 competitive matches and returned two wins, one draw and eight defeats with seven goals scored and 23 conceded. His national team set a record for longest losing streak (7), most games without scoring (7) and largest loss at a Gold Cup (6-0 against USA).
How could he defend such results?
Lawrence pointed to the scarce resources available to Trinidad and Tobago when compared to other Concacaf nations. He noted that domestic players in United States play for nine or 10 months in the year while the Pro League now runs for roughly four.
“Our players are not playing enough football,” said Lawrence. “Basically you are talking about part-time footballers versus professional footballers. If we are all being honest and realistic with ourselves, we know what is going to be the outcome in the majority of the cases.
“So what you find happens in the majority of cases is we may be able to put in a performance but what we suffer with is putting consistent performances together.”
In fact, Lawrence did not use a single Pro League player against the United States. All 13 of the Warriors used in that fixture play abroad with eight actually earning a living in the US leagues.
Ironically, Lawrence had only three Warriors in the US top flight competition, the Major League Soccer (MLS). All three, Kevin Molino, Joevin Jones and Greg Ranjitsingh, were on the bench that day.
By the end of the competition, Jones, a two-time MLS champion, had not started a single match while Ranjitsingh never got on to the field. Jones has failed to start in any of his last five competitive matches for the Warriors—a run which dates as far back as October 2017.
“At the end of the day as the head coach, I work with the players and I ask certain things of them,” said Lawrence, when pressed on his use of Jones, “and I then have to make a decision based on what I think is best for the team. And at that moment in time, I felt the players who started the games were the ones who deserved to start.”
The Pro League’s woes aside, Lawrence admitted that the team’s results were below his own expectations.
“If we had managed to put in the performances we did against Thailand, Iran, Japan, Wales, then maybe we would have gotten further,” said Lawrence, notwithstanding the fact that the Warriors lost three of the games he referenced and drew the other. “[…] I didn’t think that we were going to perform in that manner in the Gold Cup. I genuinely had a good feeling […] that we would have done better as a group.
“But obviously we went into the Gold Cup facing several challenges, which I think some of them took a toll on the group.”
Lawrence complained about their failure to secure US visas, which he said denied him the chance to take playmaker Ataulla Guerra and forward Marcus Joseph to the Gold Cup.
He denied that it was a shortcoming on the part of his own technical staff or the TTFA.
“It can’t be a lack of planning [on our side] when you have Aubrey David and Ataulla Guerra, for example, who applied for their US visas since March,” he said. “For us to get to June and they still hadn’t gotten hold of it—I don’t think Ataulla has even gotten his visa at the moment. So it definitely wasn’t a lack of planning.”
Then there was a friendly against Canada, a week before their opener against Panama, in which Lawrence hoped to use all 23 players but was eventually restricted to six substitutes.
He even pointed to the social media furore around a player he did not name—but would certainly be Saudi Arabia-based attacker Lester Peltier—which also caused a stir in the camp.
A person who appeared to be Peltier was photographed holding a male genitalia belonging to someone not shown in the image. And the image went viral just before Trinidad and Tobago’s opening Gold Cup game.
“Was it a distraction?” asked Lawrence. “For those of you who saw what I saw, it was definitely a distraction… You don’t go in a football camp and expect to be dealing with things like that; but at the end of the day […] my concern was more for the player.
“I was looking to see how it would affect the individual and by extension the group… The player obviously expressed his disappointment about what was taking place and how it affected him and we had to try and put some energy and life into the boy and let him know we are here supporting [him].”
Peltier, Lawrence said, insisted that he was misrepresented and has vowed to take legal action.
Was there anything Lawrence felt he could have done better as head coach at the Gold Cup?
“Of course! You always look at yourself and you find things that you could have done better,” said Lawrence. “[You ask yourself] did I do too much the day before, was it the right game plan tactically, was it the right starting eleven.
“Against USA, I told the players that I take responsibility for the first goal scored because Kevin Molino should not have been caught in a position on the back stick having to defend a six foot plus defender… But in football that is what happens and sometimes a player has to take responsibility.”
Lawrence did not give any more concrete examples of things he might have done differently or why he was culpable for Molino’s placement at that vital moment.
He accepted that the team had struggled creatively and lamented the fact that, while trying to address their offensive shortcomings, they began to leak goals as well.
“When you try to correct one, then something else goes wrong,” he said.
Lawrence said he took the criticism from supporters on the chin, as part of his job.
“When you get negative results you expect to be criticised, you expect to be analysed, you expect to be questioned,” said Lawrence. “You as an individual have to believe in yourself… I felt like I’ve lost a battle but I have definitely not lost a war because I’ve got a lot in my tank still—trust me.”
He rounded on at least one critic, though. Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) president and TTFA board member Keith Look Loy could not find room for Lawrence on his all-conquering Malick Secondary football team, almost 30 years ago, and was apparently unconvinced at the potential of the gangly player.
Lawrence, who went on to score the goal that took Trinidad and Tobago to the 2006 World Cup, still has not forgiven Look Loy for the slight; and there is clearly no love lost between them.
“If I took his advice I wouldn’t be sitting where I am today,” said Lawrence. “Why? When I was 15 years old, that’s the same guy who said I wouldn’t make it in football. I didn’t take his advice then. I continued to keep going.
“Look at 1998, he got beaten 8-0 [with Joe Public] against DC United. He didn’t resign. You know what he did? He got promoted. He then went on to manage our national junior team.
“In 1999, in three consecutive games he got beat by six goals. He didn’t resign. You know what he did? He got promoted again as the National Senior Team assistant. He didn’t resign then.
“He got appointed as the national technical director and he then appointed a german coach [Otto Pfister] and paid him US$50,000 a month and when questioned he said it was chump change. We all knew what happened then. He didn’t even get to the Hex. He didn’t resign…”
It was, of course, selectively picking from Look Loy’s career as a coach and an administrator. In the massive losses with Joe Public and the National Under-17 Team, Look Loy had one week on the job in the first case and two in the second after Muhammad Isa was sacked by then Public owner and TTFF special advisor Jack Warner on both occasions.
Look Loy did resign as National Senior Team assistant after one game under head coach Zoran Vranes, who was sacked after a 1-0 loss to Costa Rica. And he was one member of a selection committee that hired not only Otto Pfister but Even Pellerud, Angus Eve and Shawn Cooper, who were certainly more successful than the German.
Bertille St Clair, Trinidad and Tobago’s most successful coach, had not always been convinced by Lawrence either and the former soldier appeared to have been a late bloomer. Look Loy, for his part, claimed he told Lawrence that he could not make the Malick first team—not that he could not make it as a footballer.
The main point that Lawrence wanted to impart, though, is he believes he is the right person to fix the problem.
“When I assess the games, we have to manage the football better,” he said, as he pointed to goals conceded based on squandering possession against Panama and Guyana. “We have to improve in that aspect of the game.”
Lawrence is looking forward to the Nations League in September and, although he stopped short of promising a revamp, he said talented young players like Keston Julien and Noah Powder are on his radar.
He is hopeful that the Ascension Invitational Tournament, which is due to start on 12 July, will help the match fitness of the local-based players, who he feels should be the core of the national team.
“I would like to be able to select from a bigger pool of players in regards to our local players,” said Lawrence. “[…] If we can get our league in Trinidad to be up and running for nine months like it used to be, it would help.
“[…] In my opinion, your national programme is as strong as your leagues; and right at this moment we don’t have an existing league. We are the only country to take part [in the Gold Cup] that doesn’t have an existing league.”
There is still no start date in sight for the T-League, which is chaired by Lindsay Gillette and an amalgam of the Pro League and TTSL and falls under the direct supervision of the TTFA.
The Ascension competition, which is the brainchild of Terminix director Richard Ferguson, will feature two divisions with six Pro League teams and as many TTSL teams in the top flight.
W Connection, North East Stars, Central FC and Point Fortin Civic are not involved.
Lawrence insisted that he was not using domestic football issues as an excuse for his own stewardship. But it was a point that he returned to often today.
“We went to the Gold Cup and I have lost a battle and it was hurtful,” said Lawrence, “but then I definitely haven’t lost a war. I am not saying I have all the answers but I am definitely seeing how things can improve.
“2016, please, do your research. Look at the [link between] when the Pro League started to suffer and then ask yourself the question: is there any connection between why football in Trinidad and Tobago, at this moment in time, is finding difficulty?
“I will leave you to come up with your own answer.”
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Note: T-League, which, because of the involvement of UEFA and FIFA, will replace the T&T Pro League as the country’s tier 1 competition.
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Pro League gets $3M sponsor, T-League in trouble.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
A US$500,000 sponsorship is set to put a newly-rebranded T&T Pro League on track soon, a source close to the League has revealed on Tuesday.
Guardian Media Sports was reliably informed that the newfound sponsorship, from a local organization, could lead to the abandonment of the UEFA/FIFA-proposed T-League which has struggled to get the funding from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and the FIFA Forward Project.
It is uncertain why monies from the Ministry of Sports have not been forthcoming after minister Shamfa Cudjoe made it clear approval has already been given for its release to clubs.
According to the source, a meeting of the pro league clubs will be held today at 10 am at the office of the Home of Football in Balmain Couva, to decide if the pro league will proceed on its own with some of the initiatives of the UEFA and FIFA.
The meeting will also seek to decide on the prize structure for the pro league, a new name for the league, the format and a starting date.
If the Pro League gets going, then a call will be made by pro league clubs for the abandonment of the football commission, which was created to steer T&T football into the new era of the T-League.
According to the source, the majority of the clubs are in favour of the Pro League going it alone. They also believe the time has come for the pro league to have its own second division tournament, which could fit into the aspirations of the UEFA and FIFA recommendations highlighted in the T-League.
Last week this newspapers reported recently that the T&T Super League clubs were lobbying the organisers of the Ascension Invitational Football League to play a second round of competition, as stated by the sponsors of the League at its launch two months ago.
However, the source explained that clubs are against this request, as they believe it was being done by a group with an agenda to destabilize the sport because of its desire to seek governance of the sport later on this year.
"There is a heavy distrust for super league clubs and its chairman Keith Look Loy because of a perceived agenda ahead of the T&T Football Association Elections in November. If this group gets its way, then its members will make TTFA president David John-Williams and national coach Dennis Lawrence look bad, for them to look like saviours of local football," the source said.
The source labelled the Ascension league as a glorified Minor League, designed for Terminix La Horquetta Rangers to win, saying the La Horquetta based club which took over the franchise of St Ann's Rangers just over a year ago, is the only club that will play all its matches at home.
From the 10 pro league clubs, Guardian Media Sports understand that only one team- Club Sando, has come out in support of an extended round to the Ascension League. However, pro league clubs have already discussed among themselves, that super league contenders Cunupia FC will be an adequate replacement for Club Sando in the Pro League.
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Shamfa, your obligation as Minister is to insist on the consolidation of the T-league or to withhold the subvention.
Proper public policy and the public interest supersede short-term self-interested determinations that do not mesh with the medium to longer-term viability of first-class and professional football in Trinidad and Tobago.
If the Pro League "brain trust" are willing to sacrifice vision, and confound common sense, informed by clutching at $500,000 US, view this as a first step in weaning them off the public teat.
And, by the way, it is not the role of the Pro League to act as a proxy for the perceived political preservation of a TTFA president or to act as a buffer to protect the job security and image of the national team coach.
If indeed it is, the operational architecture of football is both poorly designed for success and sustainability and artificially girded with protections against conflicts of interest.
That being the case, we should, all declare 'lost ball' and go home, or, end the small goal football that is "charading" as as a big objective project.
Grant the subvention under these circumstances if your Government is willing to have a legacy of coronating the TTFA president and endorsing ill-informed decisional destinations.
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You want her to disburse the funds or not?
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I think he is saying not to grant the subvention under the condition that the PRO League takes the US$500 and separate themselves from the T-League.
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Pro League gets $3M sponsor, T-League in trouble.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
A US$500,000 sponsorship is set to put a newly-rebranded T&T Pro League on track soon, a source close to the League has revealed on Tuesday.
Guardian Media Sports was reliably informed that the newfound sponsorship, from a local organization, could lead to the abandonment of the UEFA/FIFA-proposed T-League which has struggled to get the funding from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and the FIFA Forward Project.
It is uncertain why monies from the Ministry of Sports have not been forthcoming after minister Shamfa Cudjoe made it clear approval has already been given for its release to clubs.
According to the source, a meeting of the pro league clubs will be held today at 10 am at the office of the Home of Football in Balmain Couva, to decide if the pro league will proceed on its own with some of the initiatives of the UEFA and FIFA.
The meeting will also seek to decide on the prize structure for the pro league, a new name for the league, the format and a starting date.
If the Pro League gets going, then a call will be made by pro league clubs for the abandonment of the football commission, which was created to steer T&T football into the new era of the T-League.
According to the source, the majority of the clubs are in favour of the Pro League going it alone. They also believe the time has come for the pro league to have its own second division tournament, which could fit into the aspirations of the UEFA and FIFA recommendations highlighted in the T-League.
Last week this newspapers reported recently that the T&T Super League clubs were lobbying the organisers of the Ascension Invitational Football League to play a second round of competition, as stated by the sponsors of the League at its launch two months ago.
However, the source explained that clubs are against this request, as they believe it was being done by a group with an agenda to destabilize the sport because of its desire to seek governance of the sport later on this year.
"There is a heavy distrust for super league clubs and its chairman Keith Look Loy because of a perceived agenda ahead of the T&T Football Association Elections in November. If this group gets its way, then its members will make TTFA president David John-Williams and national coach Dennis Lawrence look bad, for them to look like saviours of local football," the source said.
The source labelled the Ascension league as a glorified Minor League, designed for Terminix La Horquetta Rangers to win, saying the La Horquetta based club which took over the franchise of St Ann's Rangers just over a year ago, is the only club that will play all its matches at home.
From the 10 pro league clubs, Guardian Media Sports understand that only one team- Club Sando, has come out in support of an extended round to the Ascension League. However, pro league clubs have already discussed among themselves, that super league contenders Cunupia FC will be an adequate replacement for Club Sando in the Pro League.
The quality of the Ascension league is an entirely separate issue from whether it should enter a second round of play. The Ascension league is neither a panacea nor a threat. Try not to pretend that its influence extends beyond its restricted appeal.
None of the ingredients needed to save local football are to be found anywhere in this article.
A cult of personality won't save local football. Fearmongering won't save local football. Propaganda won't save local football. Protecting turf won't save local football. Casting good advice aside won't save local football. Nor will constructing buildings nor $500,000 US. Nor the government subvention.
What's more important dear Pro League? A Reserve League or a second division competition? Feeding a starving infant bread or water?
Destabilize the sport? :rotfl: Is anyone paying attention? Dahis already a fait accompli. We are there!
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The way I see it, thanks to the Ascension league local footballers and some clubs got the opportunity to play in an organized league. It may be a pre-season league but it got the ball rolling when others still can't come together to agree on a league for top flight football. I thought the pro league was going to be the new T-league but it looks like they're going in two different directions, never a dull moment!
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I think he is saying not to grant the subvention under the condition that the PRO League takes the US$500 and separate themselves from the T-League.
Ok! Is this nightmare happening for truth?
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I think he is saying not to grant the subvention under the condition that the PRO League takes the US$500 and separate themselves from the T-League.
Ok! Is this nightmare happening for truth?
Hence the foreshadowing of this comment:
"The T&T Pro League brass are said to be seeking to identify ways in which to honor Richard Fakoory. Agreeing with him or not, one less than elaborate way to do so would be to honor Richard by recalling his voice in future discussions and by injecting his perspective into issues mooted for discussion. Richard Fakoory’s legacy merits at least that."
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This is laughable stuff, particularly the second paragraph:
Were the Pro League teams ever serious about supporting the T-League? One club owner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was always hesitant about throwing his lot in with the TTSL; and he thinks he was not alone.
“What do Super League clubs know about raising money and running professional football?” he asked. “We have been doing this for years but they don’t really believe in professional football. They want to drag us down to their level …”
https://wired868.com/2019/08/21/pro-league-and-ttsl-go-separate-ways-as-t-league-hopes-fade-guardian-3-million-claim-refuted/
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Pro League kicks off Oct 4.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
The Board of the T&T Pro League confirmed at a meeting yesterday, that there will be a 2019/2020 football season, and 12 clubs, inclusive of Club Sando, which initially supported an extension of the Ascension Invitational Football League, has agreed to play.
Following an exclusive Guardian report of a $3 million sponsorship deal in Wednesday's newspapers, the pro league, club officials and administrators immediately began putting things in place for a scheduled October 4 start.
The newly rebranded pro league will feature 12 teams instead of 10, as Cunupia FC and another team, still to be confirmed, have been added to the roster.
Following a lengthy meeting at the Home of Football in Balmain Couva, a statement issued by the Board of the ProLeague with the headline 'Pro League Clubs Agree to Continue Professional League' stated: "Professional football will play and have a 2019/20 season. As a board, we feel while all the forms of football are important, the professional league is vital towards the overall social and sporting development of T&T. The Board feels that players, coaches and administrators should continue working as paid professionals and we have an obligation to provide fans with a high-level football."
It added, "All 10 professional clubs including Club Sando have agreed to play in the 2019/20 season and two other clubs have shown interest in joining. We remain members of the T&TFA formed Commission and while we await the outcome of the future of the Commission, we will proceed to organize the T&T Pro League."
The release continued: "Concerning funding, we are exploring the use of promised Government funds as well as interests shown by entities in the private sector. Over the last 18 years, clubs, owners and sponsors have collectively invested over 25 million dollars, in addition to government's subventions into the Pro League by successive Governments of T&T. Forward ever."
RELATED NEWS
Pro League set to resume.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
Look Loy furious over no Super League as…
THE TT Pro League will be back in full swing with a 2019-2020 season, while there may be no Super League season, to the consternation of Super League president Keith Look Loy.
The Pro League board held an emergency board meeting yesterday morning and agreed that “professional football will play.”
According to a media release issued by the Pro League last evening, “We feel while all the forms of football are important, the professional league is vital towards the overall social and sporting development of Trinidad and Tobago.
“The Board feels that players, coaches and administrators should continue working as paid professionals and we have an obligation to provide fans with high level football,” the media release continued. “All ten professional clubs, including Club Sando, have agreed to play in the 2019-2020 season and two other clubs have shown interest in joining.”
This news comes a couple days after Richard Ferguson, director at Terminix La Horquetta Rangers and the brainchild of the Ascension Invitational Football Tournament (which will end in late September), agreed to continue the inaugural competition, if no league or TTFA (TT Football Association)-sanctioned tournament was taking place.
In fact, at least 14 Super League clubs issued a letter to the TTFA general secretary Camara David on Sunday, calling for a second round of the Ascension Tournament, if the T League (combination of Pro League and Super League) remained in limbo.
With no confirmation about the proposed T League, the Pro League media release noted, “We will proceed to organise (the forthcoming season).
“With regard to funding, we are exploring use of promised Government funds as well as interest shown by entities in the private sector,” the release continued. “Over the last 18 years clubs, owners and sponsors have collectively invested over $25 million, in addition to subventions injected into the Pro League by successive Governments.”
Member of the T League commission and interim Pro League chairman Brent Sancho, in a Whatsapp message last evening, said, “We are hoping the T League does come on stream but we also have to put things in place for football to be played.”
Regarding the Pro League, the Central FC owner noted, “The owners are committed, despite challenges, to play professional football and October 4th has always been the date we have circled.”
Look Loy, who is also a TTFA director and owner of FC Santa Rosa, commented via Whatsapp, “(The Super League) have shown our commitment to one league united by promotion and relegation. It is the Pro League clubs that have unilaterally withdrawn from the MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) that was signed by the two leagues and the TTFA.
“And then we were insulted by statements to the effect that we don’t know how to raise money and how to run our clubs,” he continued. “As if (the) members of (the Pro) League can’t begin this year unless they receive (the) said money.”
And Look Loy has blamed the TTFA, led by David John-Williams, for this turn of events.
“Let not the fact that John-Williams and his band are (involved in) this and responsible for undermining (the) Super League 2019 season.”
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What a shitstorm. At least the league is being played, but seriously what is going on? Why won't they sponsor a combined league? Wouldn't surprise me if the money comes from someone linked to our glorious leader.
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Look Loy dismayed over Pro League move.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
PRESIDENT of the TT Super League, Keith Look Loy, is dismayed over the move by the Pro League to start their 2019-2020 season, hence cancelling any hopes for the inaugural T-League, which was supposed to be a combination of the Pro League and Super League.
On Wednesday, the Pro League decided to start the 2019-2020 season on October 4, since there seemed little hope that the T-League will get going this year.
And Look Loy is blaming both the TTFA (TT Football Association) and the Pro League for this latest move.
“The Super League is being victimised by the TTFA and the Pro League,” said Look Loy yesterday. “We have remained faithful to the idea of one league. The TTFA has failed to deliver on what it promised in the memorandum of agreement that we signed, and the Pro League has walked away from it without even consulting us.
“(The Pro League) has decided that they’re going to start their league,” he continued. “Where (interim Pro League chairman) Brent Sancho was saying that October 4 would have been the kick-off of T-League, it turns out now that they were talking about October 4 for the Pro League.”
The outspoken Look Loy, who is also a TTFA director, revealed he and the Super League board had doubts over the proposed T-League getting started this year.
“We are not surprised that this has turned out the way (it did),” he said. “Our advice to them, from the very start of the discussions, was that 2019 should be used to plan the 2020 launch of the T-League. They decided that they know better and we tried to make the best of it. As it turns out, we were right. It wasn’t possible to do it.”
Look Loy commented on the Super League’s agreement last Sunday for a continuation of the Ascension Invitational Tournament.
“We, recognising what was going on, passed a motion for another round of the Ascension League,” said Look Loy. “I always like to have a Plan B and C so we had already put in motion planning and budgeting for our own tournament to run from October to December.
“We are in the process of looking for a sponsor. We’re going to have a tournament for our clubs to keep them active till December.”
Reflecting on the failure of the T-League to get going, the Super League president said, “The TTFA never delivered on the monies that they were supposed to have and delivered on from FIFA Forward Programme and the Pro League has fallen short because the Minister of Sport is on record, more than once, saying that the monies are available but the Pro League clubs are not compliant. That is why I’m saying we feel tremendously victimised.”
Does he think that the T-League will ever come into fruition?
He replied, “For many years I have been articulating the need for one elite league. We cannot maintain the status quo of a stagnant pool of Pro League clubs that other clubs cannot (join), unless they want to pay exorbitant sums of money to enter a league that has a failed model. They cannot function without Government subsidy. We need to scrap that and come with something new. We have to go back to the drawing board.
“We have a (TTFA) election coming up in November and I am committing myself to pushing for one elite league under a new administration. It’s a matter of planning it properly.”
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Shabazz: Pro League football is a must.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Professional football is here to stay, players and coaches must remain paid professionals and the T&T Pro League is totally committed to this reality.
This is the view of Morvant Caledonia AIA owner Jamaal Shabazz yesterday in a direct response to comments made by Super League chairman Keith Lookloy in a direct fallout since the Pro League’s decision to go ahead with its league instead of ensuring the T-League was launched this season.
“The owners have demonstrated a commitment to the nation’s youth and people like Jerry Hospedales, Darryl Mahabir (former North East Stars owner) and the deceased Richard Fakoory stand out for such a contribution,” Shabazz said in a release in defence of the Pro League’s decision to run their own league until the UEFA/FIFA-proposed T-League gets off the ground. (See Page A41)
“Mr Lookloy did not consult the T&T Pro league when he decided to ask for the Ascension League to be extended by another round. He has not told the public that the Super League intended to run a one-round league if the extension of the Ascension League was not granted. So why must the Pro League consult Look Loy when it comes to running our competition?”
Shabazz accused Look Loy of trying to paint the Pro League in a negative light, insisting the league had not left the commission which set up to steer football forward to the T-League.
“The league remains a member of the commission but just like the Super League feels that football needs to play, we in the Pro League are going to walk that talk and play our League,” Shabazz said.
“We have injected over 25 million dollars into the national economy and provided employment for over 200 players and coaches. We see it as our right to continue to create an environment where coaches and players can remain full-time professionals.”
Speaking on the role of the Pro League in T&T football, Shabazz cleared the air. “We are not the TTFA, our role is to focus on professional football. It is through the Pro League we contribute to the national football development.
“In years gone by we fed the national teams with players and coaches. Mr Look Loy does not believe in a Pro League and he has used social media to spew his venom against us. So we are very well aware of the person we’re dealing with here. He wants to curse us on social media in the night and pretend to be all lovey-dovey in the day.” Shabazz insisted that the Super League chairman got his wires crossed.
“Pro League clubs have a responsibility to its players, sponsors and supporters who have remained loyal to the concept of professional football. Mr Look Loy’s views on football are not divine revelation. His opinion is a nose. And the Pro League has its own nostrils and we are entitled to breathe,” he said. “Mr Lookloy is getting his wires crossed, the establishment of professional football and who wins the TTFA presidency are two separate issues.
“We in the T&T Pro league have always sought to keep the issues separate. The same cannot be said for Mr Look Loy.”
According to Shabazz, the decision made by the Pro League was done with each of the ten clubs giving their views.
“This was no unilateral decision, all ten clubs agreed. And one of our members, Eddie Dean (Club Sando), is on the Super League board and they, Club Sando, agreed as well. Pro League clubs have no ulterior motive, our decision is based purely on protecting our investment.”
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WATCH: TTFA Press Conference on latest move for Professional Football in Trinidad and Tobago
https://www.youtube.com/v/-DGhyj43YEk
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:puking: i not worried, cause football have a home, let football rest it head..structure, restructure, unstructure, restructure, structure, restructure...Blame Trump, yet killing Americans inside and out...wait, wrong topic..Blame the President, fk up the football inside and out...it's not fair to the President :violin:
Tweak, Tweaky, Tweaky..De noise not stopping, De noise not stopping , I hearing ah noise ah like it, ah hearing ah noise it not stopping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00JbUupJY8o
:laugh: :clown:
mr Browne doh...smh
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Did you pay your players? SPoRTT awaits payroll info before fresh pay out to Pro League clubs.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Can you provide payroll information, salary slips and/or NIS information for your players for the 2018 TT Pro League season?
The TT Pro League’s eight clubs which receive government subventions, according to a source at the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT), have been asked to prove they paid their players last season if they are to receive any money this year.
The payroll information is believed to be the final hurdle for the TTPL, which already furnished SporTT with fixtures for its 2019/20 season that is due to kick off on 4 October.
The Pro League is in the second year of a three year deal with the government, which entitles clubs to a combined TT$4.8 million in 2018, TT$3.6 million in 2019 and TT$2.6 million in 2020.
Last season, Central FC, Club Sando, Morvant Caledonia AIA, North East Stars, Point Fortin Civic, San Juan Jabloteh, Terminix St Ann’s Rangers and W Connection collected TT$600,000 each from taxpayers.
For the 2018/19 season, the eight aforementioned clubs—although Rangers are now called Terminix La Horquetta Rangers—are due TT$450,000 each.
However, before they get a second payment, the Pro League clubs must account for how they used their first subvention. The request for transparency was said to be a stipulation made by deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Farook Hosein.
“The money came to the Ministry of Sport and then to the Sports Company to pay the clubs, as directed by Cabinet,” said the government official. “But while getting the money from the Ministry of Finance, the [deputy] Permanent Secretary would have asked for information on different issues related to the finance.
“We already went through the audited financials to see how they accounted for the money that was spent; but now the clubs have been asked to supply the payroll, salary slips and other relevant information to see if they match what they sent us.”
So far, four clubs have already submitted financial information with the others expected to follow suit before the end of the week.
Wired868 understands that Rangers, Jabloteh, W Connection and Club Sando are the teams who have already complied with the request. Among the clubs still due to submit financial data are Central FC, which is headed by former Minister of Sport and T-League Commission member Brent Sancho, and Morvant Caledonia AIA, whose technical director Jamaal Shabazz also represented the TTPL on the T-League Commission.
At present, Club Sando, Morvant Caledonia AIA, San Juan Jabloteh and La Horquetta Rangers are active in the ongoing Ascension Invitational Tournament, which is due to end on 21 September.
The Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) accounts for 18 of the 24 participants in the invitational competition and have formally requested a second round of the competition—a request that was forwarded to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), who must sanction any such extension.
However, the Pro League clubs want to go their own way from 4 October.
Central FC, North East Stars, Point Fortin Civic and W Connection are not involved in the Ascension tournament. The first three clubs missed the registration deadline—although entrance into the competition is free—while Connection declined the invitation.
At present, the 2019/20 Pro League season appears to hinge on member clubs making a proper account for their use of taxpayers’ money in 2018.
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:puking: i not worried, cause football have a home, let football rest it head..structure, restructure, unstructure, restructure, structure, restructure...Blame Trump, yet killing Americans inside and out...wait, wrong topic..Blame the President, fk up the football inside and out...it's not fair to the President :violin:
Tweak, Tweaky, Tweaky..De noise not stopping, De noise not stopping , I hearing ah noise ah like it, ah hearing ah noise it not stopping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00JbUupJY8o
:laugh: :clown:
mr Browne doh...smh
DJW stated that the pro league and the super league are not members of TTFA, but the clubs are members. So, then both leagues are ipso facto illegal? Has TTFA given them the authority to run their own leagues. If not TTFA is really in no position to tell these 2 leagues what to do. Unless ..,.:. one of the club owners is the president of TTFA. Digest that. I will be back again.
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Those assigned the 7-day mission to remedy football ... a reformulated quasi-emergency committee in a sense ... comprised of Moore, Browne, Baptiste, Warrick and Partap ... the bearers of the nebulous mandate ("broad, wide and powerful") ... lack sufficient arms-length from John-Williams in some instances and, in other instances, lack the requisite independence to preside, over what has been offered as being a mechanism for profound inquiry, distanced from DJW and otherwise self-interested outcomes.
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Does a second round of Ascension competition harm the Pro League? Consider that question carefully posters.
What benefits the PL?
If "Kerry Packer" touch ground, de dance mash up!
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:puking: i not worried, cause football have a home, let football rest it head..structure, restructure, unstructure, restructure, structure, restructure...Blame Trump, yet killing Americans inside and out...wait, wrong topic..Blame the President, fk up the football inside and out...it's not fair to the President :violin:
Tweak, Tweaky, Tweaky..De noise not stopping, De noise not stopping , I hearing ah noise ah like it, ah hearing ah noise it not stopping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00JbUupJY8o
:laugh: :clown:
mr Browne doh...smh
This should help clarify:
The questions over financial integrity have become increasing uncomfortable for John-Williams’ regime with the Veteran Footballers Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago (VFFTT) led by their president Selby Browne in the vanguard of financial information requests for information on financial management, finance received from FIFA and CONCACAF and the programmes this money has been spent on.
Browne has a right to be suspicious. He suffered losses calculated at millions of dollars from the dubious removal of broadcast rights to the Caribbean Sports Television Network (CSTN) for the 2002 World Cup and other FIFA Events from 1999 to 2002 by FIFA’s then marketing agency Kirch Group. CSTN had already been broadcasting throughout the Caribbean through its national associates, some of which were state broadcasters.
The World Cup rights were then effectively given to then CONCACAF and TTFA president Jack Warner although CSTN had already begun a payment programme.
Attempts to recover losses from FIFA have proved futile, though Browne has given up.
http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2017/07/18/unpaid-italian-coaches-forced-trinidad-questions-mount-ttfa-monies/
Until now?
maxg, when is the last time you walked away from millions of dollars?
Here's the sort of messaging that is likely to work for you, if say ... you were attempting to remedy a past wrong:
Selby Browne, president of the Veteran Footballers Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago (VFFOTT) and a new TTFA board member, emphasised that the leadership of Trinidad and Tobago should be carried out through the proper channels of the TTFA and football stakeholders across the whole community, and not by disenfranchised or ad hoc dissident groups seeking their own power bases.
http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2019/08/02/warner-acolytes-battle-return-control-trinidad-tobago-fa/
Seen?
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Pro League clubs reject TTFA proposal; DJW falls out with support base with elections looming.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
TT Pro League clubs have rejected the financial goodies on offer by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) and are prepared to enter the 2019 season armed with just TT$450,000 government subventions, in what might be the first tangible sign of a split between TTFA president David John-Williams and his support base.
John-Williams, the owner of W Connection Football Club, is one of the Pro League’s founding members and, in conjunction with a National Football Committee led by TTFA board member Selby Browne, put together an attractive financial package for the top flight clubs.
Essentially, Browne and company gutted an initial deal proposed by Concacaf and Uefa officials and diverted funds meant for prize money and operating expenses for Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) clubs to TT Pro League club owners instead.
As a result, Pro League clubs stood to bank US$108,000 per season—more than double the US$50,000 suggested by Concacaf/UEFA.
The caveat was clubs would have to place their share of the FIFA Forward money as well as their TT$450,000 government subventions into a fund managed by the TTFA, with the governing body taking responsibility for everything from hiring the Pro League’s administrative staff to paying players.
Defence Force and Police FC, who do not qualify for government subventions but were offered equal financial stakes in the Concacaf/UEFA proposal, would also be denied a share in the revenue.
Clubs were told the offer was non-negotiable. And, in a heated meeting last Saturday, they rejected the proposal.
“Would you take your money and give it to John-Williams to manage for you?” one Pro League representative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, asked Wired868 rhetorically?
With a TTFA election looming, the Home of Football unfinished and in desperate need of funds and John-Williams’ spotty record where keeping financial promises were concerned, the Pro League voted ‘no thanks’. But it was a tight decision.
In the first vote, four clubs elected to accept the TTFA proposal, four answered in the negative and two abstained.
The four clubs who backed John-Williams’ pitch were Connection, run by the TTFA president’s daughter, Renee John-Williams, Morvant Caledonia AIA, North East Stars and Point Fortin Civic. Central FC, Club Sando FC, San Juan Jabloteh and Terminix La Horquetta Rangers voted against while Defence Force FC and Police FC abstained.
However, representatives from Defence Force and Police, after consideration, also decided to reject the TTFA offer.
It meant the clubs voted against the TTFA by a 6-4 margin.
As tempers boiled over, there was a last change. Jabloteh director Jerry Hospedales, who was not present, indicated by writing that he was overruling the club’s representative at the meeting and voting with John-Williams. So the vote was 5-5.
The Pro League’s acting chairman, Brent Sancho, had the casting ballot. And he voted ‘no’.
Another Pro League insider claimed their distrust of the TTFA eroded any chance that the the two bodies could operate in good faith.
“In the first meeting we had with Selby [Browne], he said all 10 Pro League teams were getting US$108,000,” said the anonymous insider. “However at the meeting last week in which the president was a part of, they were saying something different—which was that it would only be eight teams and there were leaving out ‘Army’ and Police…”
Another club representative pointed to issues that surfaced during the brief tenure of the League Commission, which left the clubs—long used to autonomy—feeling bullied by not only the TTFA president but also his general secretary Camara David. They are now too suspicious of both men to simply hand them control.
“One of the problems we saw with the Commission is that people applied for jobs but it appeared only the friends of the general secretary were being shortlisted,” said the representative. “So now we are saying we want [Pro League CEO] Julia Baptiste to control the League—whether we are talking about marketing or whatever. The TTFA wants to be in charge of everything from hiring the competition manager straight down to the paying of players and we had no say; none whatsoever.
“[…] It came as if they were hijacking our competition. They said when the FIFA Forward money comes if we didn’t buy into what they want, they gone. Everything was the TTFA’s way or no way.”
So far, only six Pro League clubs have received government subventions with Central FC and Point Fortin Civic both missing out due to financial discrepancies. But rather than make clubs more desperate to do a deal with the TTFA, it had the opposite effect.
“If everyone puts their $450,000 into the fund, we will have two teams not able to put any money,” said the representative. “Then two other teams, Rangers and Club Sando, said they’re not putting any money into a TTFA fund either. So you have four teams not doing it. But whether or not those clubs pay, they can’t be put out because they are [Pro League] shareholders. So it is a whole melee…”
Ultimately, the clubs voted to reject the TTFA board. However, they are open to considering an improved offer. Will John-Williams and Browne make one?
The TTFA should have held elections this month while November is the latest it can be held under the constitution. The Pro League is the largest voting bloc with 10 from a total of 47 delegates.
With the Men’s National Senior Team in free-fall, the flop of the Elite National Under-15 programme as well as poor results from other men’s and women’s national teams and the Home of Football unfinished shrouded in controversy, John-Williams could hardly afford to see the backs of his Pro League colleagues if he is to retain the post of president.
Last week, John-Williams told TV6 Morning Edition host Fazeer Mohammed that his ascension to TTFA president was written in the stars.
“The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association is 111 years old in 2019,” said John-Williams. “It was founded on July 23, 1908—the day I was born, July 23rd. Maybe the stars were lined up that I had to be president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association…”
At present, the TT Pro League clubs are rejecting John-Williams’ right to lead them—whether by divine ordinance or otherwise.
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Ascension to sponsor re-branded Pro League
By Joel Bailey (T&T Newsday)
THE T&T Pro League is set to be re-branded as the United States clothing company Ascension will come on board as sponsor of the T&T Pro League.
Ascension has been involved in domestic club football, as the sponsors of an Invitational Tournament which is expected to conclude by the end of this month.
Richard Ferguson, the brainchild of the Ascension Invitational Tournament, director of local pest control company Terminix and managing director of Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, yesterday confirmed that a sponsorship arrangement is in place for the Pro League, inclusive of television rights.
“There is a sponsorship arrangement,” said Ferguson. “There will be a launch and part of (the deal) is that we’ll be showing 20 matches on television. Ascension will be sponsoring the 20 matches.”
He continued, “We’ve bandied about some names and one of the names is the Ascension Premier League.”
According to a story on local website Wired868, the Ascension offer will be for one year only and Ferguson is expected to foot all production costs for the league’s coverage, which will likely be aired by regional sports channel SportsMax and a local entity.
Central FC’s owner and acting Pro League chairman Brent Sancho, is pleased with the positive approach shown by Ferguson towards the top-flight domestic competition.
“There has been some positive developments for the League,” said Sancho. “We’re very excited about the (forthcoming) season. We are now looking to put together a benefit game for Jason Marcano’s family, which should be the curtain-raiser for the season.”
Marcano, a former national midfielder, died in a vehicular accident in Arouca on May 30.
A week ago, the Pro League board rejected a proposal by the TT Football Association (TTFA), led by David John-Williams, to use FIFA Forward monies into the competition on the basis that the TTFA will oversee all funds due to the participating clubs, both from FIFA and subventions from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.
Sancho, in a diplomatic tone, said, “We at the Pro League will never leave the door closed for anyone, inclusive of the TTFA. The TTFA has been good to the Pro League in the past and, of course, we will want to leave the door open. There (have) been some positive developments for the league and, so, we will continue to move forward.
“If it’s to move forward without the TTFA, then so be it. If things come to fruition and both entities can work a way forward, then so be it as well. We’re always willing to work and partner with the governing body.”
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Good for the pro league but what about the super league teams? Looks like they get blank since no 2nd round in the Ascension league.
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Good for the pro league but what about the super league teams? Looks like they get blank since no 2nd round in the Ascension league.
Before or after hands are dealt, some people hold cards or sneak cards from the deck. Intriguingly, all the cards don't ever seem to be on the table at the same time.
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EEWuEgYWwAUocKG.jpg)
The September 12, 2019 presentation of a $3.6 million (TT) cheque to the TTFA and TT Pro League.
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Wasn't the Pro League to have started by now? Checks in hand, who sticking?
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Sancho: First Citizens Cup to kickstart new league
By Joel Bailey (T&T Newsday)
INTERIM CHAIRMAN of the TT Pro League, Brent Sancho, said that the First Citizens Cup will kickstart the 2019-2020 Ascension Football League.
The tournament will be sponsored by Terminix Trinidad director Richard Ferguson and sport clothing brand Ascension.
Concerning the status of the league, which was due to kick off today, Sancho said yesterday, “We plan to make an official announcement (today) as well as a launch next week of the First Citizens Cup.”
Sancho, who is also the owner of former Pro League champions Central FC, said talks are still ongoing with the local governing body TT Football Association (TTFA) regarding the structure of the league, as well as its relationship with both Ascension and regional sports cable channel SportsMax.
“We’re still in discussions with the TTFA re the proposed Tier One and Tier Two, and we also have the contractual agreements with ourselves, Ascension and SportsMax being put together by our lawyers.”
The former Sports Minister continued, “Things are in stream. We (wouldn’t) start as planned this weekend. We have put together a game to be played, the final of the (First Citizens) Cup in lieu of the deceased Jason Marcano.”
The 35-year-old Marcano, the former St Ann’s Rangers, San Juan Jabloteh and Central FC midfielder/striker, died in a vehicular accident on May 30.
Asked when exactly the league would kick off, Sancho responded, “We have the launch of the Cup and that will give all the indications as to what is the next step. All the information will be given subsequently as it relates to when the league will start etcetera.
“We’re excited to know that First Citizens has shown interest in partnering with us,” Sancho added. “We hope to have one or two pleasant surprises for spectators and fans alike.”
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what the ........ ? ???
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https://www.yahoo.com/sports/former-nigeria-international-elahor-slams-074849186.html
Looks like TT and Nigeria has plenty in common.
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Cunupia FC welcome Pro League ‘challenge’
By Narissa Fraser (Newsday).
Coach: ‘It’s a whole new ball game’
CUNUPIA FC head coach Michael De Four says he is “welcoming the challenge” as the team makes its debut this season in the TT Pro League.
They currently hold an unbeaten run in the 2019 First Citizens Cup after defeating Morvant Caledonia AIA 1-0 in their opening match and edging San Juan Jabloteh 2-2 in the second game.
Speaking with Newsday yesterday morning, De Four said, “It has been going good because we haven’t lost a game yet. I am learning from – arguably – the best in the country.
“When they (some of the other teams) had 16 years experience and came in CFU (Caribbean Football Union) three or four times, this team was playing in Central Zone. So to come up against them was a nice achievement. It was a nice, uphill challenge.”
He has been coaching football for approximately 12 years. He believes football is more than just a sport – it’s almost like a science.
“It is no longer, ‘Hey, kick the ball here’ or ‘Come here,’. It’s more than that. Since I have that kind of logic and reasoning, it is very easy for me to apply that scientific side of football to coaching. I am being challenged to merge the human side of the game with the scientific.”
They were the 2018 TT Super League Cup champions. But more recently, they finished fourth in Division One of the recently-concluded Ascension Invitational Tournament with 19 points, which De Four says was “brilliant” and “well-executed.”
“It was a nice little snippet of how football should be at a higher level in TT – income earning, entertaining, challenging.
“We got a little taste of how the Pro League clubs play. It was nice for us as a Super League team but now they’re calling us a Pro League team.”
Captain Kevon “Showtime” Woodley has been with the team for the past three years and told Newsday he believes the team can handle the challenges thrown at them in the league this season.
“It’s our first time in the league but we are doing well. I look forward to the challenge.”
Asked which teams he considers their biggest competitors, Woodley said, “W Connection – they are one of the best teams in the country, (Terminix La Horquetta) Rangers. But the rest of the teams, we not really worried about them.”
While he said he sees room for the team’s improvement, he said they must be given time as it cannot happen overnight. He said he is hoping the team can finish within the top five on the table.
De Four also said he would like to see some improvements, but agreed that the team has been doing well.
“We are at about 75 per cent of where I would like us to be in terms of physical strength and conditioning. I would say we need to sharpen our movement off the ball and on the ball, we should have sharper movements and I need to see more of our technical tendencies while we are on the field.
“From a person on the outside watching, they’d just be excited. But from my perspective, that’s how I see it.
“It’s a whole new ball game.”
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EEWuEgYWwAUocKG.jpg)
The September 12, 2019 presentation of a $3.6 million (TT) cheque to the TTFA and TT Pro League.
I hope Sancho, his team and the league see the money this time, or they might have to join league of champions ( before it crashes - oops to late, sorry Sanch) to get some money to buy some equipment.
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Doxilly saves Connection in Pro League opener
By Rachael Thompson-King (T&T Guardian)
Melvin Doxilly scored a late equaliser to help rescue defending champions W Connection with a 1-1 draw against Caledonia AIA in the opening round of matches in the T&T Pro League on Friday night at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex in Bagatelle, Deigo Martin.
Aaron Richards had opened the scoring for Caledonia in the 21st minute but neither teams could find the back of the next before the halfway mark, giving Caledonia the 1-0 advantage at the break.
On the resumption, it was more of the same as the reigning champions hunted for an equaliser. But it wasn’t until four minutes before the end of regulation time that Doxilly (86th) netted the levelling goal to ensure Connection earned a share of the points with Caledonia.
In the other match of the double-header, a goal each from Devorn Jorsling and Darius Ollivierra saw Defence Force to a 2-1 victory against Terminix La Horquetta Rangers.
Jorsling scored the opener in the 27th to see the soldier/sailor combination unit go in at the half 1-0 up.
Rangers were hoping to level the scores on the resumption but Ollivierra (49th) had other intentions and at the start of the second half joined Jorsling on the scoresheet in the 49th to put Defence Force ahead 2-0.
The La Horquetta team did get a consolation goal thanks to Isaiah Lee in the 89th.
In another double-header over at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, AC Port-of-Spain, formerly called North East Stars, and Police came away with victories.
Rashard Hyacenth netted a pair of goals in the ninth and 25th in AC Port-of-Spain’s 3-2 win against Central FC. The other goal was scored by Kordell Samuel (22nd).
For Central, Damani Richards (47th) and Kessan St Rose (83rd) were the goal-scorers in the losing effort.
In the second match, Police played to a 2-0 victory over Cunupia FC with goals coming from Christian Thomas (32nd) and Keion Wilson (34th).
The other opening-round match between Tiger Tanks Club Sando and San Juan Jabloteh was rescheduled to yesterday at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella and it was the former prevailing 1-0.
Kadeem Gittens netted the winner in the 87th minute.
Scores:
Tiger Tanks Club Sando 1 (Kadeem Gittens) v San Juan Jabloteh 0
Friday
(At Diego Martin Sporting Complex)
Morvant Caledonia United 1 (Aaron Richards 21st) v W Connection 1 (Melvin Doxilly 86th)
Defence Force 2 (Devorn Jorsling 27th, Darius Ollivierra 49th) v Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 1 (Isaiah Lee 89th)
(At Hasely Crawford Stadium)
AC Port-of-Spain 3 (Rashard Hyacenth 9th, 25th, Kordell Samuel 22nd) v Central FC 2 (Damani Richards 47th, Kessan St Rose 83rd)
Police FC 2 (Christian Thomas 32nd, Keion Wilson 34th) v Cunupia FC 0
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In another double-header over at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, AC Port-of-Spain, formerly called North East Stars, and Police came away with victories.
That's news to me - they moved out of the East and into POS now? What motivated the name change?
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In another double-header over at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, AC Port-of-Spain, formerly called North East Stars, and Police came away with victories.
That's news to me - they moved out of the East and into POS now? What motivated the name change?
Buh yuh already answered yuh own question! ;D
RE Q2: Maybe two bull cyah live in one pen.
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In another double-header over at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, AC Port-of-Spain, formerly called North East Stars, and Police came away with victories.
That's news to me - they moved out of the East and into POS now? What motivated the name change?
Buh yuh already answered yuh own question! ;D
RE Q2: Maybe two bull cyah live in one pen.
I have asked that same question a couple weeks ago when I read the news. I questioned the move. The AC organization never made a news conference indicating the move. What is the team's plan to attract fans to their games. How are the going to work with the communities of east and west POS. Where is their main location. The move is like a Sunday morning league side. As a matter of fact Sunday morning side does move better than that.
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Exactly, seems a massive shame to uproot a team from its community...
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Exactly, seems a massive shame to uproot a team from its community...
And what an uprooting?
bad marketing when we the fans have to find this out in a "by the way" fashion in the press. SMH
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Does the TTPFL still have a website. googled but couldn't find it.
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Does the TTPFL still have a website. googled but couldn't find it.
They still have the domain, but the website is non-functional. They typically provide updates on their Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/TT-Pro-League-107634415940278/), but it's not consistent.
-
Does the TTPFL still have a website. googled but couldn't find it.
They still have the domain, but the website is non-functional. They typically provide updates on their Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/TT-Pro-League-107634415940278/), but it's not consistent.
:beermug: :beermug:
Anybody knows where I can find a schedule for PFL games for Dec. It sure as hell not on their FB page.
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Seecharan nets brace in Rangers win
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)
Former national youth player Kishun Seecharan scored a first-half brace to lead Terminix La Horquetta Rangers to an emphatic 7-2 drubbing of AC Port-of-Spain in round two of the T&T Pro League on Thursday night.
Going into the match at La Horquetta Recreation Ground, La Horquetta, host club Rangers were under pressure to get a win after losing their season opener to Defence Force 1-2 a week ago.
And it didn’t take long for Rangers to get things going, as Seecharan fired in the opener as early as the third minute.
However, AC Port-of-Spain, who edged past three-time league winners Central FC 3-2 to kick start their season, were soon back on level terms through John-Paul Rochford a minute later.
It took a while for Rangers to regain control of proceedings but Seecharan restored their slim lead in the 20th minute, which they carried into the half-time interval.
Five minutes after the restart, however, Rangers sprung to life through out-of-favour national midfielder Keron “Ball Pest” Cumming, who extended the lead to 3-1 before two more former national youth players, Jamal Creighton (62nd) and Anselm Jackson (75th), pushed the advantage to 5-1.
The AC Port-of-Spain players did not drop their heads and were handed a glimmer of hope courtesy a Rashad Hyacenth 76th strike to cut the margin to 5-2, but that was as close as they would get as senior national team duo Tyrone Charles (85th) and Kadeem Corbin (87th) added their names to the scoresheet to complete the lopsided win for Rangers to go top of the table with three points from two matches. Rangers now hold the edge on goal-difference from Police FC, Defence Force, Tiger Tanks Club Sando and AC Port-of-Spain while Morvant Caledonia United and W Connection are next on the table with a point each.
Thursday’s result:
LA HORQUETTA RANGERS 7 (Kishun Seecharan 3rd, 20th, Keron Cummings 50th, Jamal Creighton 62nd, Anselm Jackson 75th, Tyrone Charles 85th, Kadeem Corbin 87th) v AC PORT-OF-SPAIN 2 (John-Paul Rochford 4th, Rashad Hyacenth 76th)
Current T&T Pro League standings:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
L.H Rangers 2 1 0 1 8 4 3
Police FC 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
Defence Force FC 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
Club Sando 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
AC Port-of-Spain 2 1 0 1 5 9 3
Morvant Caledonia 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
W Connection 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Pt Fortin Civic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Central FC 1 0 0 1 2 3 0
San Juan Jabloteh 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
Cunupia FC 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
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Does the TTPFL still have a website. googled but couldn't find it.
They still have the domain, but the website is non-functional. They typically provide updates on their Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/TT-Pro-League-107634415940278/), but it's not consistent.
???
:beermug: :beermug:
Anybody knows where I can find a schedule for PFL games for Dec. It sure as hell not on their FB page.
Seriously!!
We have a national league and no one know when the games are.
There was a double header at the HCS on Friday which I would have gone to.
I hate to say it but our football program is just a regressive joke.
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Does the TTPFL still have a website. googled but couldn't find it.
They still have the domain, but the website is non-functional. They typically provide updates on their Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/TT-Pro-League-107634415940278/), but it's not consistent.
???
:beermug: :beermug:
Anybody knows where I can find a schedule for PFL games for Dec. It sure as hell not on their FB page.
Seriously!!
We have a national league and no one know when the games are.
There was a double header at the HCS on Friday which I would have gone to.
I hate to say it but our football program is just a regressive joke.
Breds, I think you should find employment in the TT pro league updating they website. Oh shims, I forget. They eh have money to pay You, and You eh tying up yourself to wuk for free.
-
Does the TTPFL still have a website. googled but couldn't find it.
They still have the domain, but the website is non-functional. They typically provide updates on their Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/TT-Pro-League-107634415940278/), but it's not consistent.
???
:beermug: :beermug:
Anybody knows where I can find a schedule for PFL games for Dec. It sure as hell not on their FB page.
Seriously!!
We have a national league and no one know when the games are.
There was a double header at the HCS on Friday which I would have gone to.
I hate to say it but our football program is just a regressive joke.
Breds, I think you should find employment in the TT pro league updating they website. Oh shims, I forget. They eh have money to pay You, and You eh tying up yourself to wuk for free.
I reached out to the relevant people in the Pro League multiple times a while back and offered to provide them a website (any charges would've likely been minimal) as we have done for Jamaica Premier League (https://premierleaguejamaica.com/) and also collaborated with the Super League in 2018. I never got any reply.
I do not have any insider information, but as I saw at the last board meeting they have a commission in place to implement the T-League, it is possible the Pro League doesn't want to invest much time in to something like a website right now. I will say though that that is hardly an excuse as the Pro League has lagged behind for years in terms of coverage.
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Caledonia, Club Sando lead at break
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)
Morvant Caledonia AIA and Tiger Tanks Club Sando will share the lead at the top of the 2019/2020 T&T Pro League table for the two-week break for the Christmas holidays, after contrasting results in round one on Friday night.
Playing in the feature match of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, the “Stallions”, as Morvant Caledonia are known by their adoring fans, edged out Police FC 2-1.
Caledonia took the lead as early as the second minute through Aaron Richard and on the stroke of half-time Jevick Mac Farlane made it 2-0 to the delight of their teammates.
However, on the resumption, Police clawed their way back into the contest when Keon Wilson netted in the 56th. But that was as close the Lawmen would get to their rivals, as Morvant Caledonia held on for their first win in two matches to climb to four points and joint top of the 11-team table with Club Sando.
In the other match on the night at Mucurapo, former champions Jabloteh picked up their first points of the campaign in the 1-0 triumph over three-time Pro League champions Central FC, courtesy an 84th-minute item from former national Under-20 striker Micah Lansiquot.
Down at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Club Sando missed out on a chance for the outright lead at the top after having their perfect winning start to the season halted in a 1-1 draw against Cunupia FC.
Six minutes into the second half of a closely fought match, Club Sando, who edged San Juan Jabloteh 1-0 in their season opener, went ahead via a strike from Shaqkeem Joseph. However, Cunupia FC got the equaliser in the 72nd minute thanks to national beach soccer stand-out Kevon “Showtime” Woodley.
The match between W Connection FC and Point Fortin Civic FC at Couva was postponed due to the untimely passing of Shahdon Winchester of W Connection FC in a tragic vehicular accident on Thursday along with three of his friends. The league will resume on January 3, 2020.
T&T Pro League results:
Friday (Dec 20):
CLUB SANDO 1 (Shaqkeem Joseph 51st) v CUNUPIA FC 1 (Kevon Woodley 72nd)
MORVANT CALEDONIA AIA 2 (Aaron Richard 2nd, Jevick Mac Farlane 45th) v POLICE FC 1 (Keon Wilson 56th)
SAN JUAN JABLOTEH 1 (Micah Lansiquot 84th) v CENTRAL FC 0
W Connection v Pt Fortin Civic - postponed
Thursday (Dec 19):
LA HORQUETTA RANGERS 7 (Kishun Seecharan 3rd, 20th, Keron Cummings 50th, Jamal Creighton 62nd, Anselm Jackson 75th, Tyrone Charles 85th, Kadeem Corbin 87th) v AC PORT-OF-SPAIN 2 (John-Paul Rochford 4th, Rashad Hyacenth 76th)
Current standings:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
1. Morvant Caledonia 2 1 1 0 3 2 4
2. Club Sando 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
3. L.H Rangers 2 1 0 1 8 4 3
4. Police FC 2 1 0 1 3 2 3
5. Defence Force FC 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
6. San Juan Jabloteh 2 1 0 1 1 1 3
7. AC Port-of-Spain 2 1 0 1 5 9 3
8. W Connection 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
9. Cunupia FC 2 0 1 1 1 3 1
10. Pt Fortin Civic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11. Central FC 2 0 0 2 2 4 0
-
Does the TTPFL still have a website. googled but couldn't find it.
They still have the domain, but the website is non-functional. They typically provide updates on their Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/TT-Pro-League-107634415940278/), but it's not consistent.
???
:beermug: :beermug:
Anybody knows where I can find a schedule for PFL games for Dec. It sure as hell not on their FB page.
Seriously!!
We have a national league and no one know when the games are.
There was a double header at the HCS on Friday which I would have gone to.
I hate to say it but our football program is just a regressive joke.
Breds, I think you should find employment in the TT pro league updating they website. Oh shims, I forget. They eh have money to pay You, and You eh tying up yourself to wuk for free.
I reached out to the relevant people in the Pro League multiple times a while back and offered to provide them a website (any charges would've likely been minimal) as we have done for Jamaica Premier League (https://premierleaguejamaica.com/) and also collaborated with the Super League in 2018. I never got any reply.
I do not have any insider information, but as I saw at the last board meeting they have a commission in place to implement the T-League, it is possible the Pro League doesn't want to invest much time in to something like a website right now. I will say though that that is hardly an excuse as the Pro League has lagged behind for years in terms of coverage.
It wasn't always like this. In the past their website even had videos of past games - full games.
How the hell can someone come to a game if they don't know when and where it is. I would have gone to the double header at the HCS on Friday. STEUUUPPPSS!!!
And now I begging the PFL for a schedule.
VB
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League just start and on a two week break already? Steups.
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League just start and on a two week break already? Steups.
cant you see it’s cold out there, the grounds are frozen and visibility is poor due to the inclement christmas weather, and fellers have to go parranging, drink rum, punch of crem and eat black cake? they can’t do that and play football all at once, you crazy?
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League just start and on a two week break already? Steups.
cant you see it’s cold out there, the grounds are frozen and visibility is poor due to the inclement christmas weather, and fellers have to go parranging, drink rum, punch of crem and eat black cake? they can’t do that and play football all at once, you crazy?
The pro-league should not follow the socalled fifa schedule. It is a weak league with too few teams. The small league should be compact and short. Should start in May or June. End in December. The 3/4 months break could used for the national teams.
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The pro-league should not follow the socalled fifa schedule. It is a weak league with too few teams. The small league should be compact and short. Should start in May or June. End in December. The 3/4 months break could used for the national teams.
Interesting idea, but I can't agree to 4-6 months of inactivity , particularly when 2 of the proposed months of activity are World Cup months. There should definitely be two discrete seasons. Aside from the inactivity, there is also a physiological concern of playing sustained football, week in week out, for seven months and having league and Cup matches condensed within that calendar.
My comment was somewhat tongue-in-cheek in that I get why the break exists but personally ... having less than a flat out two week break and trying to attract people to matches by playing on New Year's and Boxing Day would have been a consideration after so many months of nothing. Aside from SSFL, it seems that everything football-related in T&T occurred in November. After this break doh is the League inclined to take another lengthy hiatus around Carnival?
Consistency is needed. In recent years national teams have had commitments around both Xmas and Carnival.
Four to five months dedicated to a NT sounds good but if matches are not being played, from where do you draw players if injuries occur and for refreshing the squad and unearthing talent? There are other issues ... what would be their training/competitive program and where? Viable to a degree if you have majorly deep pockets and the team is flying all over the planet playing foreign opposition or permanently based abroad ...
At the end of the day, a Pro League calendar still has to contend with the impact of a FIFA calendar.
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Regarding their schedule this is the response I got from the TTPFL:
_______________________________
Mr. Bhoolai,
Thank you for your interest in the TT Pro League.
December scheduled concluded on the 20th and January's schedule will commence on the 3rd. We are expected to play every Friday and Tuesday in January. Because I don't have confirmation on the playing venues at present it would be difficult to send them out. However, as soon as I am able to get the venues confirmed I will remember to email them to you.
Kind regards,
Julia Baptiste
Julia Baptiste
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Regarding their schedule this is the response I got from the TTPFL:
_______________________________
Mr. Bhoolai,
Thank you for your interest in the TT Pro League.
December scheduled concluded on the 20th and January's schedule will commence on the 3rd. We are expected to play every Friday and Tuesday in January. Because I don't have confirmation on the playing venues at present it would be difficult to send them out. However, as soon as I am able to get the venues confirmed I will remember to email them to you.
Kind regards,
Julia Baptiste
Julia Baptiste
Well at least you get ah response.
-
Regarding their schedule this is the response I got from the TTPFL:
_______________________________
Mr. Bhoolai,
Thank you for your interest in the TT Pro League.
December scheduled concluded on the 20th and January's schedule will commence on the 3rd. We are expected to play every Friday and Tuesday in January. Because I don't have confirmation on the playing venues at present it would be difficult to send them out. However, as soon as I am able to get the venues confirmed I will remember to email them to you.
Kind regards,
Julia Baptiste
Julia Baptiste
Well at least you get ah response.
;D ;D ;D
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Sancho pushes for full-time chairman
T&T Express
ACTING Pro League chairman Brent Sancho thinks the position should be a full-time one, complete with salary. Sancho was appointed as Acting Chairman following the death of Richard Fakoory in May.
Yesterday, the former Trinidad and Tobago sports minister issued a release stating that the position should become a full time, paying post.
“We are in urgent need of a truly independent chairperson to guide the board,” said Sancho.
“But we haven’t yet sat down as a board to discuss the criteria for the position, including roles and responsibilities,” he added.
“Then, there is also the issue of salary as the position is currently unpaid,” Sancho went on.
Sancho says that he believes that the whole structure of Pro League management needs to be reviewed.
“We need the right people in the right jobs. Currently, CEO Mrs. (Julia) Baptiste is covering all bases, and this can’t be right. While she is working tirelessly to keep the ship afloat, she needs support.”
‘Important decisions to make’
Sancho is of the opinion that Pro League football has reached a crossroads.
“We have important decisions to make and I wonder if we have the right people in place to make the hard decisions required to move the sport forward,” he said.
“The Chairman’s role is a case in point,” said the fotrmer national team defender. “Both Richard and myself were asked to step up temporarily, and we were both honoured to accept the role. However, we both recognised that the appointment could only be temporary. You simply can’t have a club owner chairing the league.”
Sancho explained that the need for independence was a tough requirement when someone was discussing issues that affect your own club.
“It’s an impossible situation. For example, Central F.C. are still owed prize money from 2016 and 2017 and yet, I can’t express my opinion concerning clubs that owe money to the league from last season. It’s frustrating.”
Sancho added that while he had a casting vote, it was the club owners who made the board decisions which he is mandated to support.
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Football at a ‘critical crossroad’
T&T Newsday
“Football in T&T has reached a critical crossroad”
That’s the opinion of acting Pro League chairman, Brent Sancho.
“We have important decisions to make and I wonder if we have the right people in place to make the hard decisions required to move the sport forward”
Sancho was appointed as acting chairman following the death of Richard Fakoory in May.
“The chairman’s role is a case in point” said Sancho. “Both Richard and myself were asked to step up temporarily, and we were both honoured to accept the role. However, we both recognised that the appointment could only be temporary: you simply can’t have a club owner chairing the league”
Sancho explained that the need for independence is a tough requirement when you’re discussing issues that affect your own club.
“It’s an impossible situation. For example: Central FC are still owed prize money from 2016 and 2017 and yet, I can’t express my opinion concerning clubs that owe money to the league from last season. It’s frustrating.”
Sancho said while he has a casting vote, it’s the club owners who make the board decisions which he is mandated to support. “We are in urgent need of a truly independent chairperson to guide the board,” said Sancho. “But we haven’t yet sat down as a board to discuss the criteria for the position, including roles and responsibilities and KPI’s. Then there is also the issue of salary, as the position is currently unpaid.”
Sancho said he believes the entire structure of Pro League management needs to be reviewed.
“We need the right people in the right jobs. Currently, CEO Mrs (Julia) Baptiste is covering all bases, and this can’t be right. While she is working tirelessly to keep the ship afloat, she needs support.”
He said while there have been leaks of board members’ criticisms of Baptiste, this is perfectly normal in a business.
“I am certain that every CEO is criticised by their board from time to time. As John Lydgate famously said, ‘You can’t please all of the people all of the time’. However, I am concerned of allegations of misogyny.
“Mrs Baptiste has been supported by the Pro League board for 17 years. I am sure that there aren’t many male dominated sports organisations that have supported a senior female executive for such a period.
“So the accusations of sexism by the Pro League board is mischief making by persons with their own negative agendas. Added to which, I am personally disgusted by this continuing practice of leaking confidential emails to the media. No good can come of this. Directors of any company should be able to voice their concerns to each other without worrying about their thoughts being taken out of context.
“We are almost reaching an Orwellian state where people are castigated for Thought Crimes”.
Sancho added that these media issues are keeping talented administrators away from football.
“Over the last two years, football has made more headlines through politics than through the sport itself. It shouldn’t be that way.
“Yes, administrators should be answerable, but far too much is being aired in public that doesn’t need to be. And much of this is fuelled purely by politics, and even hatred.
“Another famous quote of John Lydgate says that empty vessels make the most noise. We are listening to the people who shout loudest rather than those who whisper wisely.
“This approach doesn’t work for coaches on the touchline and it doesn’t work in the board room.
This mentality must change and I am hoping that the Pro League will soon identify such a person to step into the chair and carry our football forward.”
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With the PFL site being down, is there anyway to check out the PFL rosters?
i know getting profile info, is a huge ask(hopefully available soon with the FIFA Connect system) so team lists should be sufficient
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With the PFL site being down, is there anyway to check out the PFL rosters?
i know getting profile info, is a huge ask(hopefully available soon with the FIFA Connect system) so team lists should be sufficient
No. You have to piece it together my going to the clubs' Facebook page, as well as looking at match reports.
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With the PFL site being down, is there anyway to check out the PFL rosters?
i know getting profile info, is a huge ask(hopefully available soon with the FIFA Connect system) so team lists should be sufficient
With the PFL site being down, is there anyway to check out the PFL rosters?
i know getting profile info, is a huge ask(hopefully available soon with the FIFA Connect system) so team lists should be sufficient
No. You have to piece it together my going to the clubs' Facebook page, as well as looking at match reports.
Sadly this is how I'm having to do it for Football Manager, what you looking to do it for Azzurri?
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Cunupia FC's technology attracts UWI students
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)
T&T Pro League campaigners Cunupia FC recently welcomed Sherisse Crawford and Matthew Serrant, two students of the University of the West Indies' Cave Hill campus who are into the second year of their BSc Sports Science programme, to further their study on sports science.
Only recently, the central club, the newest member of the Pro League, signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Sports Science Society at the University of the West Indies' Cave Hill campus in recognition of the club's pioneering role in the use of advanced scientific technology on the football field.
Cunupia FC is presently the only local football team in the country and the Caribbean using a performance monitoring and management system, which allows for comprehensive measurements and capture of virtually all aspects of football players on-field activity. This gives coaches and other technical staff members an insight into players' strengths and weakness.
It also, with objective data, allows staff to continuously assess training programmes and match statistics.
The agreement was initiated by Trey Hart, the assistant coach at Cunupia FC, who is the holder of a BSC in Sports Science from the Cave Hill campus.
On Thursday, Cunupia coach Michael De Four said he sees the MOU as a huge stepping stone towards the enhancement of sport locally and throughout the Caribbean.
Hart praised De Four and Taahir Bulbulia, president of the Sports Science Society, for their diligent work throughout the process.
The aim is to give hands-on experience into a professional sport and showcase to students the positive impact of encompassing Science in sport and the measurable improvements it supports.
The club, in only its first foray in the country's top-flight football competition, broke two key records by winning their first four matches and qualifying for the semifinals of the First Citizens Cup last year. And in the ongoing T&T Pro League, De Four intends to spring more surprises.
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Very interesting development - lets hope the investment pays off and develops a more professional approach to our players' health and fitness.
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Jordan puts Caledonia on Pro League top
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)
A single item by Ryan Jordan helped Morvant Caledonia United surge to the top of the T&T Pro League following a 1-0 win over San Juan Jabloteh at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on Friday night.
The game appeared to be heading towards a goalless stalemate when Jordan found the net in the 97th minute to secure maximum points, which sent the Morvant team to seven points overall on the standings.
Caledonia now holds a mere one-point lead over second-placed Defence Force, who defeated Cunupia FC 3-2 on Saturday.
Third-place Police FC, the recent First Citizens Cup winners, were also in winner’s row on Friday night.
In the opening match of a doubleheader at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva, against Tiger Tank Club Sando, the Lawmen made their intentions known as early as the 13th minute when Keion Wilson fired them ahead.
The southerners later were able to contain their opponents until the 77th minute when Wilson got his team’s second item for a two-goal cushion. However, the Lawmen, known for having the steadiest defence in local football presently, could do nothing when Shaqkeem Joseph found the net in the 93rd minute for a 1-2 result that propelled the Lawmen into third spot on the table on six points, with an inferior goal difference to the Army.
Meanwhile, in the second game in Couva, multiple-times Pro League winners W Connection Football Club were held 1-1 by Central FC for a share of the points.
Connection, known as the Savonetta Boys by their fans, were still attempting to come to terms with the untimely passing of their influential young striker Shahdon Winchester, who was laid to rest the day before the match after his death in an accident two weeks ago.
Still, W Connection managed to take the lead in the encounter from Mickaeel ‘Jem’ Gordon in the 27th minute. They enjoyed that advantage for most of the match until Sean Bonval found the equaliser in the 79th minute for the Central Sharks to deny Connection their first win of the season.
Afterwards, Connection CEO Renee John-Williams said, “We have played two games and have drawn them both. The season is a short one and while we cannot afford to drop points on any game, I am confident that we can find ourselves back to winning ways soon. We are in a rebuilding phase and we have a relatively young team, sprinkled with experienced ones. We like to win but we are patient and confident in the capabilities of our young charges.”
In another game at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, AC Port-of-Spain sealed fifth position on the standings despite a 1-1 tie with Point Fortin Civic. The Port-of-Spain men, who were previously North East Stars, went ahead in the 21st minute via John-Paul Rochford, before Ronell Paul found the equaliser in the 56th minute for a share of the points.
Meanwhile, in a lone contest at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima yesterday, Defence Force moved to second by defeating Cunupia FC 3-2.
Army’s influential striker Devorn Jorsling began a see-saw affair by handing his team the lead in the 28th.
But Rafael Marstre put Cunupia back on level terms with a 35th minute item and Dwane James pushed the central men in front for the first time in the match in the 65th minute.
However, two unanswered goals in the 82nd and 87th sealed the win for the Army Coast-Guard Combination team.
Scores:
(Friday)
AC PoS 1 (John-Paul Rochford 21st) v PT FORTIN CIVIC 1 (Ronell Paul 56th)
MORVANT CALEDONIA AIA 1 (Ryan Jordan 97th) v SAN JUAN JABLOTEH 0
POLICE FC 2 (Keion Wilson 13th, 77th) v CLUB SANDO 1 (Shaqkeem Joseph 93rd)
W CONNECTION 1 (Michael Gem Gordon 27th) v CENTRAL FC 1 (Sean Bonval 79th)
(Saturday)
DEFENCE FORCE 3 (Devorn Jorsling 28th, Jerwyn Balthazar 82nd, Hashim Arcia 87th) v CUNUPIA FC 2 (Rafael Marstre 35th, Dwane James 65th)
Top scorers
4 - Keion Wilson (Police FC)
2 - Rashad Hyacenth (AC PoS), Aaron Richards (Morvant Caledonia), Kishun Seecharan (La Horquetta Rangers), John-Paul Rochford (AC PoS).
1 - Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers), Micah Lansiquot (San Juan Jabloteh), Keron Cummings (La Horquetta Rangers), Kordell Samuel (AC PoS), Jervic Mc Farlane (Morvant Caledonia)
Current T&T Pro League standings:
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Morvant Caledonia*3*2*1*0*4*2*7
2. Defence Force FC*2*2*0*0*5*3*2*6
3. Police FC*3*2*0*1*5*3*6
4. Club Sando*3*1*1*1*3*3*4
5. AC Port-of-Spain*3*1*1*1*6*10*4
6. LH Rangers*2*1*0*1*8*4*3
7. Defence Force FC*1*1*0*0*2*1*3
8. San Juan Jabloteh*3*1*0*2*1*2*3
9. W Connection*2*0*2*0*2*2*2
10. Cunupia FC*2*0*1*1*1*3*1
11. Pt Fortin Civic*1*0*1*0*1*1*1
12. Central FC *3*0*1*2*3*5*1
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Where have the updates on social media gone?
was trying to find fixtures for this round a week or 2 ago and couldnt find anything on the league's FB and IG pages
and the website is down
so basically cant see lineup, scorerers and fixtures regularly ? any word as to what's going on?
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Anybody on the forum from tong and supporting the Athletic Club of POS ?
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Is there any link ..... to get the game scores
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This and FULL team rosters and lineups should be readily available
Anyone can helo with this
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W Connection, Defence Force win in T&T Pro League
By Sheldon Pierre (T&T Newsday)
DEFENCE Force and W Connection were the only winners on Tuesday night as the other three matches ended goalless when round one, match day four concluded in the T&T Pro League.
W Connection scored two early goals to eventually defeat Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 3-1 at the Ato Boldon Stadium. The home team Connection was awarded a penalty in the third minute of the game and St Lucian defender, Kurt Fredrick slapped it home, beating goalkeeper Jabari St Hillaire for the early one nil lead. Twenty minutes later, Connection's Jevaughn Humphrey was in the right spot at the right time to tap in the goal from a free-kick to double their lead which they carried into halftime.
Rangers began pressing their opponents on the resumption of the second half and they were rewarded with a goal from Keron Cummins when his shot slipped through the hands of Jason Belfon and trickled over the line. Seeking an equaliser, Rangers kept applying the pressure but against the run of play, the Savonetta Boys were awarded a corner. Mickaael Gem Gordon rose above everyone else to score a header from the corner kick which dented the hopes of the visiting Rangers and sealed the 3-1 victory for his team.
Police FC and national goalkeeper Adrian Foncette was outstanding between the uprights making several point-blank saves throughout the match against Central FC. The lawmen controlled the match for the majority of the opening half but couldn't find a way through Central's stubborn defence. Foncette made a smart save from Jameel Antoine in the 33rd minute. That chance gifted Central some energy as shortly after Noel Williams' shot went inches wide of Foncette's goal. In the last minute of the half, Foncette was called upon once again to make another crucial save, this time denying youngster Che Benny. The second half saw both teams playing high intensity football but lacked quality in the decisive end of the field resulting in the game ending in a goalless draw.
Defence Force remained perfect after three matches as they etched out a one nil victory over AC Port of Spain, at the Diego Martin Sports Complex. Long-standing Army player and captain, Jerwyn Balthazar tapped in the winner in the 70th minute from a Brent Sam cross.
There was a goal drought at the Hasely Crawford Stadium as both matches between San Juan Jabloteh and Point Fortin Civic as well as Morvant Caledonia United and Tiger Tank Club Sando ended in a draw.
Friday
La Horquetta Recreation Ground
Central Fc vs Tiger Tanks Club Sando -6pm
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs San Juan Jabloteh - 8pm
Hasely Crawford Stadium
Police FC vs Point Fortin Civic -6pm
Defence Force vs W. Connection -8pm
Saturday
Larry Gomes Stadium
Cunupia Fc vs Morvant/ Caledonia United 3:30pm
https://www.youtube.com/v/RUV7yYyr5Wo
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Felix’s goal keeps Army on Pro League top.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
The dominance of the Defence Force team in the T&T Pro League continued on Friday night when they edged struggling W Connection 1-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo to maintain their top position on the standings.
The goal came from a 33rd-minute strike by Jelani Felix and moved the Army Coast-Guard Combination unit to 12 points, a mere two-point advantage over second-placed Police FC, who were also victorious on Friday after thrashing Point Fortin Civic Centre 3-1 in the opening match of a doubleheader at the Stadium.
The Point Fortin men, who are still to record their first win of the season, felt they were on their way to breaking that jinx when Kervile Jeremiah fired them in front after only four minutes.
They then held out for the next nine minutes before the Lawmen broke their resistance.
Kareem De Freitas found the equalising goal in the 13th minute and after a period of sustained pressure, the Lawmen went 2-1 ahead from Keion Wilson’s 63rd-minute item, effectively putting Police in the driver’s seat.
The win, however, was sealed when De Freitas added his second goal of the match in the 81st minute.
At the La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Keron Cummings scored a double as home team Terminix La Horquetta Rangers demolished San Juan Jabloteh 6-0 to move to fourth on the chart.
Cummings, who has been lobbying for a return to the national team, may just have caught the attention of new national coach Terry Fenwick with his goals in the second and 24th minutes.
The Jabloteh men, known for having difficulties when playing in La Horquetta, were a shadow of themselves as they conceded goals at will.
Samuel Delice made it 3-0 with his goal in the 45th minute, while Tyrone Charles (57th), Kishon Hackshaw (60th) and Jamal Creighton (70th) sealed the win to take their team to six points after four matches.
And in the opening encounter at the same venue, Central FC got a goal on each side of the half from Che Benny (7th) and Shakiel Henry (29th) to dispose of Tiger Tanks Club Sando 2-1.
With the win, the Central FC men secured the sixth position on the standings with five points.
Meanwhile, in a lone encounter at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima, on Saturday, Morvant Caledonia and Cunupia FC played to a 1-1 draw.
The Central men opened the scoring in the 46th minute from Hakeem Legall but with the game heading to its end, Raphael Joseph snatched the equaliser in the 80th for a share of the points.
Scores:
CENTRAL FC 2 (Che Benny 7th, Shakiel Henry 29th) v CLUB SANDO 1 (Shaqkeem Joseph 43rd)
LA HORQUETTA RANGERS 6 (Keron Cummings 2nd & 24th, Samuel Delice 45th, Tyrone Charles 57th, Kishon Hackshaw 60th, Jamal Creighton 70th) v SAN JUAN JABLOTEH 0
POLICE FC 3 (Kareem De Freitas 13th & 81st, Keion Wilson 63rd) v POINT FORTIN CIVIC 1 (Kervile Jeremiah 4th)
DEFENCE FORCE 1 (Jelani Felix 33rd) v W CONNECTION 0
Current Standings
Teams P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 4 4 0 0 7 3 4 12
2 Police FC 5 3 1 1 8 4 4 10
3 Morvant Caledonia United 4 2 2 0 4 2 2 8
4 Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 4 2 0 2 15 7 8 6
5 W Connection 4 1 2 1 5 4 1 5
6 Central FC 5 1 2 2 5 6 -1 5
7 Club Sando 5 1 2 2 4 5 -1 5
8 AC Port of Spain 4 1 1 2 6 11 -5 4
9 San Juan Jabloteh 5 1 1 3 1 8 -7 4
10 Point Fortin Civic 3 0 2 1 2 4 -2 2
11 Cunupia FC 3 0 1 2 3 6 -3 1
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WATCH: In the T&T Pro League, Police scored a big win to climb to second on the table, but the biggest winners on the night were La Horquetta Rangers who hammered San Juan Jabloteh 6-0 on their home ground in Arima.
https://www.youtube.com/v/x8LLGl2MXwQ
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So when did Stuart Charles-Fevrier step down from W Conn? Is it temporary?
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Did not know Stuart stepped down from W Conn. So I am wondering, how long will W Connection stay alive? >:(
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Anybody see my team play yet? The Athletic Club of POS. ;D
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So when did Stuart Charles-Fevrier step down from W Conn? Is it temporary?
He stepped down since November.
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Did not know Stuart stepped down from W Conn. So I am wondering, how long will W Connection stay alive? >:(
Thinking it going the way of Joe Public?
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So when did Stuart Charles-Fevrier step down from W Conn? Is it temporary?
He stepped down since November.
Thanks, end of an era! If he doesn't get a NT position I figure he'd go back like he did last time?
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So when did Stuart Charles-Fevrier step down from W Conn? Is it temporary?
He stepped down since November.
Thanks, end of an era! If he doesn't get a NT position I figure he'd go back like he did last time?
He hasn't left W Connection. Just a modification in role AFAIK.
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Defence Force stay perfect while Rangers rout Jabloteh.
By Sherdon Pierre (Newsday).
DEFENCE Force secured a narrow 1-0 win over W Connection to remain perfect in the league while Terminix La Horquetta Rangers routed six goals past San Juan Jabloteh over the weekend in the TT Pro League.
Jelani Felix’s lone item in the 33rd sealed Army’s fourth victory in as many games as they top the 11-team table with maximum 12 points. Police FC climbed into second spot in the standing after capturing a 3-1 victory against Point Fortin Civic. The lawmen had a brace from Kareem Freitas (13,81) while Keion Wilson added their last goal in the 63rd and Kervile Jeremiah got on the score sheet in the fourth minute for Point Fortin.
La Horquetta Rangers scored three goals in either half to thump Jabloteh in front of their home crowd, at the La Horquetta Recreation Grounds. Rangers’ Keron Cummins opened the scoring in the second minute with a simple finish. Playing in damped conditions, Cummins completed his brace in the 24th when he tapped in a rebounding shot. In the last minute of the first half, Anslem Jackson crossed from the left flank to Samuel Delice who made no mistake scoring the third goal for the home team.
On the resumption, the visitors were given a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty for a handball in the box. However, skipper Nical Stephen’s penalty was comfortably saved by goalie Jabari St Hillaire and to rub salt into the wounds moments later, forward Tyrone Charles’ left foot shot made it four nil for La Horquetta.
At the hour mark, former national youth player Kishon Hacksaw scored the goal of the match and probably the season. Hackshaw won a tackle in his own half and went on a weaving run dribbling past three players before slipping neatly past the goalkeeper for a handful of goals. Skipper Jamal Creighton rounded off the scoring in the 70th minute when he made it six-nil.
In the previous match, at the same ground, Central FC got the first goal of the game in the seventh minute. Forward Shakiel Henry passed a low ball from the left side that met Che Benny and his shot took a deflection to trickle pass Tiger Tanks Club Sando’s goalkeeper Kelvin Henry.
The early goal brought the game to life with both teams going at each other with high pace. However, at the half hour mark, Central FC’s Henry turned scorer from provider with a well-taken shot on top the box giving his namesake no chance in goal for the two-nil lead. Two minutes before the interval, Club Sando’s striker Shaqkeem Joseph pulled a goal back for his team from a well-timed volley shot. The second half saw a similar trend of exciting football but the score-line remained the same.
Cunupia FC and Morvant/ Caledonia FC played to a 1-1 draw at the Larry Gomes Stadium. Hakim Legal opened the scoring for Cunupia in the 46th minute but Cale levelled the score ten minutes before the end of the game via a goal from Raphael Joseph.
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Yesterday's [Jan-14] Pro-League Results
6pm, Defence Force 1 (Shaquille Bertrand 31) v San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Justin Araujo-Wilson 25), Hasley Crawford Stadium
8pm, Police FC 1 (Keion Wilson 13-Pen) v La Horquetta Rangers 2 (Jamal Creighton 8, Samuel Delice 62), Hasley Crawford Stadium
6pm, Club Sando FC 0 v Point Fortin Civic 3 (Kern Edwards 28, Kerville Jeremiah 61, 72), Ato Boldon Stadium
8pm, Central FC 2 (Sean Bonval 27, 59) v Morvant Caledonia United 1 (Aaron Richard 84), Ato Boldon Stadium
7pm, AC Port of Spain 1 (Rashad Hyacenth 10-Pen) v Cunupia FC 0, Diego Martin Sporting Complex
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Jabloteh stops Army's perfect start.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Defence Force dropped its first points of the season in the 2019/2020 T&T Pro League campaign after they needed an equaliser from Shaquille Bertrand to salvage a 1-1 draw with struggling San Juan Jabloteh on Tuesday night.
This was in the first match of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
The "Teteron Men", which last won the Pro League in the 2012/2013 season, have won the team's first four matches of the league, including being 1-0 winners over defending champions W Connection at the same venue on Friday last.
Jabloteh, meanwhile entered on the back of a 6-0 mauling from Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, also on Friday at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta, and had one win in five matches.
Despite their early league struggles, the Keith Jeffrey's coached Jabloteh, took a shock lead in the 25th minute, courtesy national youth striker Justin Araujo-Wilson.
But that lead was short-lived as Bertrand drew Defence Force level six minutes later for a 1-1 half-time score.
In the second-half, Defence Force, without top striker Devorn Jorsling, squandered many second-half chances to grab full points and had to settle for a share of the points and moved to 13 points from five matches, three ahead of Police FC, who missed a chance to go top of the table after falling to a resurgent Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, 2-1 in the second match at Mucurapo.
Rangers went ahead as early as the eighth minute through former national youth player and club captain Jamal Creighton.
But, within five minutes Police, FC got on even terms thanks to in-form Keion Wilson, from the penalty spot, with his league-best sixth strike of the season.
However, Rangers would secure a third win in five matches when Samuel Delice netted in the 62nd minute after which his team held firm to move level on nine points with Morvant Caledonia, but from a match more.
At the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Pt Fortin Civic and Central FC pulled off shock wins against Tiger Tanks Club Sando and Morvant Caledonia AIA respectively.
In the opener, Kerville Jeremiah netted a second-half double to add to Kern Edwards' first-half tally to lead Pt Fortin Civic past Club Sando 3-0, while in the feature match, Sean Bonval's double was enough for Central FC to hold off Morvant Caledonia, 2-1
At the Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Diego Martin, AC Port-of-Spain got a tenth-minute penalty from Rashad Hyacenth to slip past Cunupia FC 1-0.
Yesterday's [Jan-14] Pro-League Results
6pm, Defence Force 1 (Justin Araujo-Wilson 25) v San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Shaquille Bertrand 31), Hasley Crawford Stadium
8pm, Police FC 1 (Keion Wilson 13-Pen) v La Horquetta Rangers 2 (Jamal Creighton 8, Samuel Delice 62), Hasley Crawford Stadium
6pm, Club Sando FC 0 v Point Fortin Civic 3 (Kern Edwards 28, Kerville Jeremiah 61, 72), Ato Boldon Stadium
8pm, Central FC 2 (Sean Bonval 27, 59) v Morvant Caledonia United 1 (Aaron Richard 84), Ato Boldon Stadium
7pm, AC Port of Spain 1 (Rashad Hyacenth 10-Pen) v Cunupia FC 0, Diego Martin Sporting Complex
Current T&T Pro League Standings:
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Defence Force FC*5*4*1*0*8*4*13
2. Police FC*6*3*1*2*9*6*10
3. Morvant Caledonia*6*2*3*1*6*5*9
4. L.H Rangers*5*3*0*2*17*8*9
5. Central FC *6*2*2*2*7*7*8
6. AC Port-of-Spain*5*2*1*2*7*11*7
7. W Connection*4*1*2*1*5*4*5
8. Club Sando*6*1*2*3*4*8*5
9. San Juan Jabloteh*6*1*2*3*2*9*5
10. Pt Fortin Civic*4*1*2*1*5*4*5
11. Cunupia FC*5*0*2*3*4*8*2
Leading Scorers
6 - Keion Wilson (Police FC)
4 - Keron Cummings (La Horquetta Rangers), Rashad Hyacenth (AC PoS)
3 - Shaqkeem Joseph (Club Sando), Sean Bonval (Central FC), Aaron Richards (Morvant Caledonia), Kervile Jeremiah (Pt Fortin Civic), Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers)
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T&T Pro League set for live broadcast
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)
Action involving the 11-club T&T Pro League football season, which is well into its sixth round of competition, will soon be available to local football fans and sports lovers alike on a national television network.
This was stated on Wednesday by T&T Pro League Chief Executive Officer Julia Baptiste, who noted that the League's dream of having matches broadcast live, has become a reality, courtesy its partnership with the Michael De Four-owned Talkabout Company Limited.
Speaking after what was described as a cordial meeting with the intended broadcast provider, both Baptiste, who has been associated with the Pro League since its inception 18 years ago, and De Four, the Talkabout Company's Managing Director, were positive in their views of what is expected to come on stream soon.
De Four said, “The T&T Pro League has embarked on a drive to become self-sufficient, understanding the economic situation that currently exists in the country,”
He added, "In doing so, the first initiative is to enhance the perception of the league, and one of the things we have stated, is that we want the league or teams, to play football our way. The second is to increase the social media presence,"
This was brought about by the T&T Pro League outsourcing its marketing services to Talkabout, which understands the league's economic situation and will seek to enhance its image and make it self sustainable.
The Talkabout boss said, “This venture should be happening as soon as possible, and while that is happening we will also be working towards the improvement of the social media platforms."
However, Baptiste was quick to note that after 18 years of the T&T Pro League trying to get its marketing drive on the way, now we can say, we have this company, which the league has outsourced and which has offered us a proposal that could make the pro league self-sustainable and financially viable.
“The Pro League has been on television before, but not in the way that we are going to be seeing very soon, in terms of the production and transmission in high definition. We are expecting a quality that has never been seen before, and with the discussions that Talkabout Company has been having with the local television station, we are pushing to have everything ready to be rolled out by this weekend."
“We know we are into the 2020 Carnival season, and we may have a few things happening in between, but what is very important to us is that the T&T Pro League football will be on television, and T&T could see now Pro League football on a local station."
“We at the Pro League would love to thank Talkabout Company Ltd for stepping up and being able to propose to us, something that I think we could not turn down."
"It is then we will be able to see what the T&T Pro League can bring to T&T, and we hope that the viewing public turn on their television sets," Michael De Four said.
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That is very encouraging - I hope I'm able to stream some games from the UK...
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That is encouraging.
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6pm, Club Sando FC 0 v Point Fortin Civic 3 (Kern Edwards 28, Kerville Jeremiah 61, 72), Ato Boldon Stadium
The location of this fixture as with many others don't make sense to me. Why isn't this game being played at Manny Stadium in Marabella. Sando is the home team, right?
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Has SportsMax held interest in the Pro League?
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What's the deal with Johnny Noriega-Brito? Why did he leave Morvant, where he was an influential player to go to Rangers where he is on the margins?
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WATCH: Central FC edge Morvant Caledonia, Point Fortin Civic dominate Club Sando
https://www.youtube.com/v/Rni3c9Pw8Ao
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6pm, Club Sando FC 0 v Point Fortin Civic 3 (Kern Edwards 28, Kerville Jeremiah 61, 72), Ato Boldon Stadium
The location of this fixture as with many others don't make sense to me. Why isn't this game being played at Manny Stadium in Marabella. Sando is the home team, right?
In an ideal world it would have been at Skinner Park.
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Morvant Caledonia, Rangers hunt points.
T&T Guardian Reports.
With the top two teams in the 2019/2020 T&T Pro League, Defence Force and Police FC facing off on Sunday, joint third-placed clubs, Morvant Caledonia United and Terminix La Horquetta Rangers will each have a chance to climb to within a point when matches resume on Friday night.
Currently, Defence Force which last won the Pro League crown in the 2012/2013 season leads the 11-club table with 13 points from five matches, after dropping their first points of the campaign in a 1-1 draw with San Juan Jabloteh on Tuesday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Three points back in the second spot is Police FC with ten points from six matches followed by Morvant Caledonia and Rangers with nine points each from six and five matches respectively, while Central FC is next with eight points from six matches.
Tonight (Friday, January 17), Morvant Caledonia will come up against Pt Fortin Civic in the first match of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 6 pm.
For Morvant Caledonia first-year coach, former national captain Densil Theobald it will be a chance for his team to put an end to their inconsistent form, highlighted by Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Central FC, while Pt Fortin will be buoyed by their first win of the season in the previous round, 3-1 over fellow strugglers, Tiger Tanks Club Sando.
Two hours later at Mucurapo, AC Port-of-Spain, coming off a 1-0 triumph against cellar-placed Cunupia FC comes up against defending champions W Connection, who are coming off a bye, after a 1-0 loss to Defence Force at Mucurapo.
Up at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta from 6 pm, free-scoring La Horquetta Rangers, 2-1 victors against Police FC on Tuesday last, entertain struggling Tiger Tanks Club Sando, who are winless in their last five matches, putting coach Angus Eve under pressure.
Rangers will go into the match without the services of defender Caleb Sturge after he was issued a 12th-minute red card in his team's win over Police FC.
Tonight's Matches (HCS)
Morvant Caledonia AIA vs Pt Fortin Civic, 6 pm
AC Port-of-Spain vs W Connection, 8 pm
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs Tiger Tanks Club Sando, 6 pm
at La Horquetta Rec. Grd, Phase II, La Horquetta
Tomorrow (Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar)
Cunupia FC vs Central FC, 3.30 pm
On Sunday (Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar)
Police FC vs Defence Force, 4 pm
Current T&T Pro League Standings:
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Defence Force FC*5*4*1*0*8*4*13
2. Police FC*6*3*1*2*9*6*10
3. Morvant Caledonia*6*2*3*1*6*5*9
4. L.H Rangers*5*3*0*2*17*8*9
5. Central FC *6*2*2*2*7*7*8
6. AC Port-of-Spain*5*2*1*2*7*11*7
7. W Connection*4*1*2*1*5*4*5
8. Club Sando*6*1*2*3*4*8*5
9. San Juan Jabloteh*6*1*2*3*2*9*5
10. Pt Fortin Civic*4*1*2*1*5*4*5
11. Cunupia FC*5*0*2*3*4*8*2
Leading Scorers
6 - Keion Wilson (Police FC)
4 - Keron Cummings (La Horquetta Rangers), Rashad Hyacenth (AC PoS)
3 - Shaqkeem Joseph (Club Sando), Sean Bonval (Central FC), Aaron Richards (Morvant Caledonia), Kervile Jeremiah (Pt Fortin Civic), Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers)
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Yesterday's [Jan-17] Pro-League Results
Morvant Caledonia United 1 (Tev Lawrence 69) v Point Fortin Civic 1 (Kerville Jeremiah 22), Hasely Crawford Stadium.
AC Port-of-Spain 0 v W Connection 4 (Jevaughn Humphrey 21, Dimitrie Apai 85, 90+1, Neil Benjamin 89), Hasely Crawford Stadium.
La Horquetta Rangers 1 (Isaiah Lee 64) v Club Sando 1 (Hughton Hector 9), La Horquetta Recreation Ground.
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De Four 'excited' for Pro League TV debut.
By Sherdon Pierre (Newsday).
THE TT Pro League match-up between Police FC and Defence Force on Sunday will be aired live on TTT for the first time in the league`s 18-year history.
The battle of the armed forces takes place at 4pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima in a round one match day seven fixture. The league kicked off on December 13, 2019 after the completion of the First Citizens Cup.
Instrumental in forming the historic television linkage was Cunupia FC coach Michael De Four, who is Managing Director of Talkabout Company Ltd that will handle the league's marketing.
Speaking to Newsday on Friday about the initiative De Four said, “The TT Pro League board facilitated this process because they approved my company to improve its outlook and package their product. A few members have already contacted me and as an entity in the Pro League, it is exciting.”
An animated De Four said the partnership will help the Pro League in the long run and help attract more sponsors. He believes more sports will begin following the Pro League blueprint when they see how the league has been positively rebranded.
“This is a first-time initiative for the Pro League and the company to put the league in a position to become more marketable and it will aid in the process of becoming self-sufficient. The Pro League is under a new path to have the football played the Trinidad and Tobago way and it supposed to represent a vibrant, energetic and exciting time for the league.
"I would hope that if this venture continues and is successful, it will be ground-breaking so that other sporting disciplines will approach us.”
Commenting briefly on the venture was CEO of TT Pro League Julia Baptiste.
“We welcome the initiative to increase the awareness of the TT Pro League; we hope to improve the social interaction between us and the public. We expect this collaboration to reap the benefits that are expected in order to help the league to the next level.”
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Today's Results
Central FC 0 v Cunupia FC 0
Standings.
Teams P W D L GF GA GD Points
1 Defence Force FC 5 4 1 0 8 4 4 13
2 Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 6 3 1 2 18 9 9 10
3 Police FC 6 3 1 2 9 6 3 10
4 Morvant Caledonia United 7 2 4 1 7 6 1 10
5 Central FC 7 2 3 2 7 7 0 9
6 W Connection 5 2 2 1 9 4 5 8
7 AC Port of Spain 6 2 1 3 7 15 -8 7
8 Point Fortin Civic 5 1 3 1 6 5 1 6
9 Tiger Tanks Club Sando 7 1 3 3 5 9 -4 6
10 San Juan Jabloteh 6 1 2 3 2 9 -7 5
11 Cunupia FC 6 0 3 3 4 8 -4 3
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Cunupia had plenty big talk during the Ascension, what happen to all ah that?
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Rangers salvage point on home turf
By Rachael Thompson-King (T&T Guardian)
Isaiah Lee's second-half item spared Terminix La Horquetta Rangers some embarrassment, securing a 1-1 draw with Tiger Tanks Club Sando in the T&T Pro League programme on Friday at La Horquetta Recreation ground in Phase II, La Horquatta.
The tied result means that Rangers moved into second place with 10 points, three behind unbeaten leader Defence Force (13) and ahead of Police (10) on goal-difference, nine compared to three.
Rangers entered round one match-day seven, on the back of three wins and two losses but they struggled to make the most of their superiority at home against ninth-place Club Sando, which has six points (one win, three draws and 3 losses).
Club Sando quieted the Rangers supporters early on, having the host team trailing from the eighth minute with the opening goal being scored by former national player Hughton Hector.
Rangers tried to get a grip on the proceedings but were unable to get the equaliser, allowing Club Sando to go in at the half with the 1-0 lead.
On the resumption, neither side could find the back of the net until Lee's 64th-minute item grabbed the vital point for Rangers. After conceding the goal, the southern-based team was unable to regain its lead and had to settle with sharing points.
Back in Port-of-Spain at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, W Connection eased past Athletic Club (AC) Port of Spain, 4-0 and Morvant/Caledonia United was held to a 1-1 draw with Point Fortin Civic.
Dimitrie Apai netted a pair of goals for the winner while his teammates Jevaughn Humphrey and Neil Benjamin each added one for the fifth in the standings, W Connection.
Humphrey opened the scoring in the 21st to give his team a 1-0 at the halfway mark. AC Port of Spain was hoping to recover in the second half but there was no such luck as the match seemed to be decided by the first-half goal.
Five minutes from time though, Apai found the back of the net to send W Connection up by two. Four minutes later, Benjamin put his name on the scoresheet to have the leading side ahead 3-0 but Connection was not done yet as Apai (90th+1) put the icing on the cake in added-on time
In the other encounter, Kerville Jeremiah opened the scoring in the 22nd to give eighth-place Civic the 1-0 advantage which the other southern-based held on to at the half. It was some 24 minutes into the second session that Tev Lawrence produced the equalling goal in the 69th for the fourth-place team on the table.
(Teams - by Wired868)
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers (4-4-2): 20.Jabari St Hillaire (GK); 99.Anselm Jackson, 5.Leslie Russell, 32.Yohannes Richardson (17.Ross Russell Jr 65), 26.Jesus Perez; 10.Tyrone Charles, 8.Jamal Creighton (captain), 24.Kishon Hackshaw, 77.Samuel Delice (7.Aikim Andrews 65); 15.Keron Cummings, 27.Isaiah Lee.
Unused substitutes: 29.Emmanuel John (GK), 25.Michael Yaw Darko, 28.Johnny Noriega-Brito, 31.Junior Asson.
Coach: Dave Quamina
Tiger Tanks Club Sando (4-2-3-1): 34.Kelvin Henry (GK); 23.Nicoholas Thomas, 5.Bevon Bass, 27.Darnell Hospedales, 6.Kemuel Rivers (captain); 8.Jabarry Francis, 12.Michael Basdeo; 10.Keron Cornwall, 42.Jodel Brown (17.Kevon Williams 78), 13.Shaqkeem Joseph (15.Nion Lammy 70); 19.Hughtun Hector (25.Marvin Waldrop 90).
Unused substitutes: 33.Alexei Julien (GK), 3.Tekay Hoyce, 14.Kadeem Gittens, 29.Seon Shippley.
Coach: Angus Eve
Wired868 Man of the Match: Isaiah Lee (Terminix La Horquetta Rangers)
RESULTS
Morvant/Caledonia United 1 (Tev Lawrence 69th) vs Point Fortin Civic 1 (Kerville Jeremiah 22nd)
AC Port of Spain 0 vs W Connection 4 (Jevaughn Humphrey 21st, Dimitrie Apai 85th, 90th+1, Neil Benjamin 89th)
Rangers 1 (Isaiah Lee 64th) vs Club Sando 1 (Hughton Hector 8th)
Today's Match (Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar)
Police FC vs Defence Force, 4 pm
Latest Standings
Place*Teams*P*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Points
1.Defence Force FC*5*4*1*0*8*4*4*13
2.Terminix La Horquetta Rangers*6*3*1*2*18*9*9*10
3.Police FC*6*3*1*2*9*6*3*10
4.Morvant Caledonia United*6*2*3*1*6*5*1*9
5.W Connection*5*2*2*1*9*4*5*8
6.Central FC*6*2*2*2*7*7*0*8
7.AC Port-of-Spain*6*2*1*3*7*15*-8*7
8.Point Fortin Civic*5*1*3*1*6*5*1*6
9.Club Sando*7*1*3*3*5*9*-4*6
10.San Juan Jabloteh*6*1*2*3*2*9*-7*5
11. Cunupia FC*4*0*1*3*3*7*-4*1
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Today's Results
Defence Force 0 v Police FC 0
Latest Standings
Teams P W D L GF GA GD Points
1 Defence Force FC 6 4 2 0 8 4 4 14
2 Police FC 7 3 2 2 9 6 3 11
3 Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 6 3 1 2 18 9 9 10
4 Morvant Caledonia United 7 2 4 1 7 6 1 10
5 Central FC 7 2 3 2 7 7 0 9
6 W Connection 5 2 2 1 9 4 5 8
7 AC Port of Spain 6 2 1 3 7 15 -8 7
8 Point Fortin Civic 5 1 3 1 6 5 1 6
9 Tiger Tanks Club Sando 7 1 3 3 5 9 -4 6
10 San Juan Jabloteh 6 1 2 3 2 9 -7 5
11 Cunupia FC 6 0 3 3 4 8 -4 3
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Upcoming Fixtures
(Tuesday 21 January)
San Juan Jabloteh v AC Port of Spain, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Morvant Caledonia United v La Horquetta Rangers, 8pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Cunupia FC v W Connection, 7pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v Central FC, 7pm, Mahaica Oval;
(Wednesday 22 January)
Club Sando v Defence Force, 7pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Police FC - Bye
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Upcoming Fixtures
(Friday 24 January)
W Connection v San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Police FC v AC Port of Spain, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v Cunupia FC, 7pm, Machica Oval;
(Saturday 25 January)
Central FC v La Horquetta Rangers, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium;
Defence Force v Morvant Caledonia United, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Club Sando - Bye
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Morvant Caledonia blanks Rangers 2-zip.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Joshua Alexander and Jevick Mac Farlane scored late for Morvant Caledonia United to end a four-match winless streak and achieve a 2-0 victory over Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, that moved them into second spot on the 11-team T&T Pro League standing on Tuesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
The teams went into the encounter level on 10 points, with a chance to secure the runner-up position, but at the end of the first 45 minutes, the teams were locked at 0-0 as their defenders stood firm in the face of attacks from their opponents. However, with six minutes left in the contest, Alexander put Caledonia ahead, before Mac Farlane added the insurance item in the 92nd minute to push the club to 13 points into second, but from two matches more than leaders Defence Force (14 points) who had no match schedule, while Rangers slipped to fifth.
The win was the first for Morvant Caledonia team since their 1-0 win over San Juan Jabloteh on January 3, and will no doubt serve as a confidence booster for first-time coach and former national captain Densil "Bleeder" Theobald whose next assignment is a top-of-the clash with the "Teteron Men" on Saturday at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
Earlier, at Mucurapo, in the opening match, San Juan Jabloteh found their scoring touch in a 5-2 come-from-behind thumping of AC Port-of-Spain.
Former national Under-20 captain Jean-Luc Rochford pushed AC Port-of-Spain ahead as early as the fourth minute, but the national youth team duo of Justin Araujo-Wilson and Micah Lansiquot hit back with strikes in the 14th and 15th minutes respectively to put Jabloteh ahead 2-1.
AC Port-of-Spain then added to their woes when La Shawn Roberts turned the ball into his net and his team was trailing 3-1 at the half-time interval.
Eight minutes into the second-half, Jabloteh put the result beyond doubt, thanks to Renaldo Francois. However, AC Port-of-Spain had other ideas and got a second goal back through Sedale Mc Lean to keep the match alive.
But their faint hopes of mounting a comeback quickly faded when Shakiyl Phillip netted a fifth item for Jabloteh, a penalty, five minutes from the final whistle to hand coach Keith Jeffreys his second win of the season from seven matches.
At the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, defending champions W Connection continued their march up the table with a 2-0 win over cellar-placed Cunupia FC with goals from Kurt Frederick in the 18th minute, and Isaiah Hudson, in the 61st minute.
In the other match, Pt Fortin Civic celebrated playing their first match at their Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin home this season with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over former three-time champions Central FC.
Nippy Che Benny silenced the Pt Fortin crowd when he put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute, but within four minutes Kervile Jeremiah drew Civic level before Shakuile Williams netted the game-winner in the 35th minute.
RELATED NEWS
Caledonia, Jabloteh win to climb Pro League table.
By Sherdon Pierre (Newsday).
MORVANT/CALEDONIA United climbed to second on the standings, of the TT Pro League, after scoring two late second-half goals to defeat Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 2-0, on Tuesday, at the Hasley Crawford Stadium.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much action in the first 45 minutes of the encounter. During that time, Rangers were reduced to 10 men after Isaiah Lee was sent marching midway through the first period for dissent.
In the second half, Rangers skipper Jamal Creighton threw away the best chance of the game for his team in the 55th minute. The play started with substitute Keron Cummins who slipped a pass to their best player on the night Aikim Andrews but his shot was saved by Caledonia's goalkeeper Katibi Kolapo. Creighton then shot on the rebound but it went over bar.
Moments later, Caledonia left back, Richard Williams was on the end of a series of slick passing from his team but his shot went inches wide. But, Caledonia’s Joshua Alexander scored with five minutes to go in the game deflating the hopes of Rangers. Then, substitute Jevick McFarlane sealed the two-nil victory in injury time.
San Juan Jabloteh scored a handful of goals past Athletic Club Port of Spain to win 5-2 at the same venue. AC's Jean-Luc Rochford scored the early goal from a well-taken free kick on top the box in the fourth minute. Jabloteh replied in virtually their first attack of the game as teenager Justin Araujo Wilson scored from an acute angle, shooting it between the diving goalkeeper Javon Sample in the 14th minute. A minute later, Jabloteh took the 2-1 lead when Wilson turned provider as he slipped a ball across the goal for an easy tap in goal for Micah Lansiquot.
Jabloteh extended their lead further in the 39th when Brandon Semper shot was deflected of AC's defender La Shawn Roberts for the own goal to end the first half with a 3-1 advantage.
In minute 55, Shakiyl Phillip sped down the flank on the counter attack and his accurate pass was trapped by Renaldo Francois on his right foot. Francois buried a shot with his left foot for the 4-1 lead.
The Port of Spain club pulled a goal back twenty minutes before time through a Sedale Mclean shot that came off the inside of the post and sneaked in to cut the lead to 4-2. Jabloteh restored their three-goal cushion when Jair Edwards' weaving run earned his team a penalty. Phillip, who was deserving of a goal, stepped up and sent goalie Sample the other way for the 5-2 lead. AC had a perfect chance to trim the lead but Jabloteh's goalie Christopher Bigette made a great save low to his left to deny Rashas Hyacenth a goal from the penalty spot. The 5-2 victory has propelled Jabloteh to eight points.
W Connection picked up their third victory in the campaign to move into third spot after a two-nil victory over nine-men Cunupia FC, at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. Connection got goals from St. Lucian left back Kurt Fredericks in the 18th and Isaiah Hudson in the 61st minute.
(Teams- by Wired868)
San Juan Jabloteh (4-2-3-1): 30.Christopher Bigette (GK); 13.Keshawn Hutchinson, 20.Shakiyl Phillip, 12.Sévère Verilus, 16.Brandon Semper; 4.Nical Stephens (captain), 11.Micah Lansiquot; 23.Tyrese Bailey, 10.Renaldo Francois, 17.Nickell Orr (18.Jair Edwards 50); 25.Justin Araujo-Wilson (27.Jaheim Faustin 68).
Unused substitutes: 35.Jesse Peters (GK), 2.Kerdell Sween, 8.Dellon Jaggasar, 15.Kadeem Hutchinson, 22.Jercole Pierre.
Coach: Keith Jeffrey
AC Port of Spain (4-4-2): 26.Javon Sample (GK); 2.La Shawn Roberts, 4.Brendon Creed, 17.Kyle Sylvester, 24.Rakim Cabie; 13.Shem Clauzel (27.Dominic Douglas 46), 12.Jean-Luc Rochford, 28.Sowande Prieto (19.Rivaldo Coryat 46), 7.Sedale McLean; 9.Rashad Hyacenth, 18.Kordell Samuel.
Unused substitutes: 31.Kwame Farrell (GK), 3.Osei Charles, 11.Kyle Bartholomew, 14.Andel Noray, 22.Darian Parks.
Coach: Walt Noriega
Referee: Nikolai Nyron
Wired868 Man of the Match: Shakiyl Phillip (San Juan Jabloteh)
Yesterday's Results
(Tuesday 21 January)
San Juan Jabloteh 5 (Justin Araujo-Wilson 14, Micah Lansiquot 15, Renaldo Francois 53, Shakiyl Phillip 85-Pen, La Shawn Roberts 39 Own-Goal) v AC Port of Spain 2 (Jean Luc-Rochford 4, Sedale McLean 71), 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Morvant Caledonia United 2 (Joshua Alexander 84, Jevick McFarlane 90+2) v La Horquetta Rangers 0, 8pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Cunupia FC 0 v W Connection 2 (Kurt Fredrick 18, Isaiah Hudson 61), 7pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic 2 (Kerville Jeremiah 22, Shakuile Williams 35) v Central FC 1 (Ché Benny 17), 7pm, Mahaica Oval;
Latest Standings
Teams P W D L GF GA GD Points
1 Defence Force FC 6 4 2 0 8 4 4 14
2 Morvant Caledonia United 8 3 4 1 9 6 +3 13
3 W Connection 6 3 2 1 11 4 +7 11
4 Police FC 7 3 2 2 9 6 +3 11
5 Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 7 3 1 3 18 11 +7 10
6 Point Fortin Civic 6 2 3 1 8 6 +2 9
7 Central FC 8 2 3 3 8 9 -1 9
8 San Juan Jabloteh 7 2 2 3 7 11 -4 8
9 AC Port of Spain 7 2 1 4 9 20 -11 7
10 Tiger Tanks Club Sando 7 1 3 3 5 9 -4 6
11 Cunupia FC 7 0 3 4 4 10 -6 3
Top Scorers:
6 - Keion Wilson (Police FC)
5 - Kervile Jeremiah (Pt Fortin Civic)
4 - Keron Cummings (La Horquetta Rangers), Rashad Hyacenth (AC PoS),
3 - Shaqkeem Joseph (Club Sando), Sean Bonval (Central FC), Aaron Richards (Morvant Caledonia), Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers).
Upcoming Fixtures
(Wednesday 22 January)
Club Sando v Defence Force, 7pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Police FC - Bye
(Friday 24 January)
W Connection v San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Police FC v AC Port of Spain, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v Cunupia FC, 7pm, Machica Oval;
(Saturday 25 January)
Central FC v La Horquetta Rangers, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium;
Defence Force v Morvant Caledonia United, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Club Sando - Bye
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Yesterday's Results
(Wednesday 22 January)
Club Sando 2 (Jodel Brown 5, Jamali Garcia Own-Goal) v Defence Force 3 (Aaron Lester 36, Rodell Elcock 87, Reon Moore 90), 7pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Latest Standings
Teams P W D L GF GA GD Points
1 Defence Force FC 7 5 2 0 11 6 5 17
2 Morvant Caledonia United 8 3 4 1 9 6 3 13
3 W Connection 6 3 2 1 11 4 7 11
4 Police FC 7 3 2 2 9 6 3 11
5 Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 7 3 1 3 18 11 7 10
6 Point Fortin Civic 6 2 3 1 8 6 2 9
7 Central FC 8 2 3 3 8 9 -1 9
8 San Juan Jabloteh 7 2 2 3 7 11 -4 8
9 AC Port of Spain 7 2 1 4 9 20 -11 7
10 Tiger Tanks Club Sando 8 1 3 4 7 12 -5 6
11 Cunupia FC 7 0 3 4 4 10 -6 3
Upcoming Fixtures
(Friday 24 January)
W Connection v San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Police FC v AC Port of Spain, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v Cunupia FC, 7pm, Machica Oval;
(Saturday 25 January)
Central FC v La Horquetta Rangers, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium;
Defence Force v Morvant Caledonia United, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Club Sando - Bye
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Pro League Top Scorers.
Club - Name - Total
Police FC - Keion Wilson - 6
Point Fortin - Kerville Jeremiah - 5
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers - Keron Cummings - 4
AC Port of Spain - Rashad Hyacenth - 4
W Connection - Jevaughn Humphrey - 3
Central - Sean Bonval - 3
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers - Jamal Creighton - 3
Club Sando - Shaqkeem Joseph - 3
Caledonia AIA - Aaron Richards - 3
W Connection - Kurt Frederick - 2
W Connection - Dimitri Apai - 2
Central - Che'raul Benny - 2
San Juan Jabloteh - Micah Lansiquot - 2
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers - Kishun Seecharan - 2
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers - Tyrone Charles - 2
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers - Isaiah Lee - 2
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers - Samuel Delice - 2
Defence Force - Devorn Jorsling - 2
Defence Force - Jerwyn Balthazar - 2
Police FC - Kareem Freitas - 2
Caledonia AIA - Jevick Mac Farlane - 2
AC Port of Spain - John-Paul Rochford - 2
W Connection - Neil Benjamin - 1
W Connection - Michaeel Gem Gordon - 1
W Connection - Isaiah Hudson - 1
W Connection - Own Goal - 1
Central - Shakiel Henry - 1
Central - Kesean St.Rose - 1
Central - Damani Richards - 1
Point Fortin - Shakuile Williams - 1
Point Fortin - Kern Edwards - 1
Point Fortin - Ronell Paul - 1
San Juan Jabloteh - Renaldo Francois - 1
San Juan Jabloteh - Shakiyl Phillip - 1
San Juan Jabloteh - Tyrese Bailey - 1
San Juan Jabloteh - Justin Wilson - 1
San Juan Jabloteh - Own Goal - 1
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers - Kishon Hackshaw - 1
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers - Kadeem Corbin - 1
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers - Anselm Jackson - 1
Defence Force - Rodell Elock - 1
Defence Force - Jelani Felix - 1
Defence Force - Hashim Arcia - 1
Defence Force - Shaquille Bertrand - 1
Defence Force - Reon Moore - 1
Defence Force - Darius Ollivierra - 1
Defence Force - Aaron Lester - 1
Police FC - Christian Thomas - 1
Club Sando - Kadeem Gittens - 1
Club Sando - Hughton Hector - 1
Club Sando - Jodel Brown - 1
Club Sando - Own Goal - 1
Caledonia AIA - Tev Lawerence - 1
Caledonia AIA - Raphael Joseph - 1
Caledonia AIA - Ryan Jordan - 1
Caledonia AIA - Joshua Alexander - 1
AC Port of Spain - Sedale Mc lean - 1
AC Port of Spain - Jean-luc Rochford - 1
AC Port of Spain - Kordell Samuel - 1
Cunupia F.C. - Dwane James - 1
Cunupia F.C. - Hakim Legall - 1
Cunupia F.C. - Rafael Maestre - 1
Cunupia F.C. - Kevon Woodley - 1
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WATCH: San Juan Jabloteh put 5 past AC Port of Spain
https://www.youtube.com/v/_NUZIxP3Y_Q
WATCH: Defence Force remained on top the T&T Pro League following a slim 3-2 squeaker past Club Sando.
https://www.youtube.com/v/CWyebOWjXQg
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Freitas' double sends Police second.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Police FC's intent to seal a double title at the T&T Pro League season, took a positive turn yesterday, courtesy Kareem Freitas' brace in a 4-1 thrashing of AC Port-of-Spain on Friday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
Freitas scored on each side of the half to send the Lawmen into the second position on the 10-team standings on 14 points, trailing leaders Defence Force by three points.
The First Citizens Cup winners were in control from start to finish, and it was only a lapse in concentration at the end that afforded their opponents a consolation item in the 92nd minute.
Police, known famously for its sturdy defence, had now sharpened up in offence, and Jameel Perry showed this when he handed them the advantage after just 18 minutes. Later Freitas opened his account in the 36th, the first of his double strike which sent the Lawmen to the half-time interval with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Afterwards, the AC Port-of-Spain men, who struggled to contain the raging Police offence in the first session, would go three-down, courtesy Juma Clarence's item in the 61st minute that left the score at 3-0.
Freitas completed his double in the 77th minute when he fired in for a more-than-comfortable Police 4-0 lead. But with the game well into time-added-on, the former Sangre Grande-based team found the net from the boot of Sedale Mc Lean.
The result ensured that AC Port-of-Spain remained at ninth on the table, but multiple times Pro League winners W Connection had now dropped to fourth after a 2-2 tie with San Juan Jabloteh at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain Couva.
And in another game, Point Fortin Civic returned to their Mahaica Oval home ground with a 3-1 victory over Cunupia FC.
The Point Fortin men though had to come from behind after Xavier Rajpaul gave Cunupia the advantage in the 22nd minute. However, Kerville Jeremiah scored the equalizing goal in the 41st minute, before Tyrel Emmanuel, the former Shiva Boys Hindu School striker and Kern Edwards sealed the win for their team with items in the 68th and 80th minutes respectively.
Yesterday, leaders Defence Force was scheduled to face Morvant Caledonia United at the Couva venue, while Terminix La Horquetta Rangers and Central were to clash in a 4 pm encounter at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar Arima.
Yesterday's Results
(Friday 24 January)
W Connection 2 (Dimitri Apai 60th, 86th) v San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Jair Edwards 64th, Briel Thomas 89th Own-Goal), 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Police FC 4 (Jameel Perry 18th, Kareem Freitas 36th & 77th, Juma Clarence 61st) v AC Port of Spain 1 (Sedale Mc Lean 90+2), 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic 3 (Kerville Jeremiah 41st, Tyrel Emmanuel 68th, Kern Edwards 80th) v Cunupia FC 1 (Xavier Rajpaul 22nd), 7pm, Machica Oval;
Standings
Teams*P*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Points
1*Defence Force FC*7*5*2*0*11*6*5*17
2*Police FC*8*4*2*2*13*7*6*14
3*Morvant Caledonia United*8*3*4*1*9*6*3*13
4*W Connection*7*3*3*1*13*6*7*12
5*Point Fortin Civic*7*3*3*1*11*7*4*12
6*Terminix La Horquetta Rangers*7*3*1*3*18*11*7*10
7*Central FC*8*2*3*3*8*9*-1*9
8*San Juan Jabloteh*8*2*3*3*9*13*-4*9
9*AC Port of Spain*8*2*1*5*10*24*-14*7
10*Club Sando*8*1*3*4*7*12*-5*6
11*Cunupia FC*8*0*3*5*5*13*-8*3
Upcoming Fixtures
(Saturday 25 January)
Central FC v La Horquetta Rangers, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium;
Defence Force v Morvant Caledonia United, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Club Sando - Bye
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Freitas is a neat and tidy player. Catches the eye in offensive movements. A few months ago I was of the view that his efforts merited attention. Ah cyah say more because I don't have a three-dimensional view of the player to go on. Yet, the qualities I've seen in him are unlikely to betray him. Certainly, if there's anyone younger with Freitas' deliverables, steam de pot!
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Morvant Caledonia stops Army 2-1.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
The Defence Force's dominance in the T&T Pro League came to a screeching end when Morvant Caledonia United edged them 2-1 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva on Saturday.
In spite of the victory, however, the Defence Force still maintained their top position on the 11-team standings with 17 points, but the Morvant men have now closed the gap between the teams to within one point as they moved to 16 points.
The Army Coast-Guard combination until, for all their dominance in the season so far, had to depend on the unfortunate generosity of the opposition which scored all three goals in the contest on the day.
Following a goalless first half, Tev Lawrence fired the Morvant Caledonia team into the lead in the 52nd minute.
But they began to feel unlucky when their defender Melville Doxilly turned the ball into his own goal to even up the scoreline at 1-1 some nine minutes after the opening goal.
However, Joshua Alexander sealed the win for Jamaal Shabazz's team with a goal in the 71st minute that assured them maximum points in the encounter.
Over at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima, Jamal Creighton scored a double to guide Terminix La Horquetta Rangers to a 2-0 shut-out of Central FC which moved them to fourth on the table.
Rangers, which struggled to replicate the form that took them to the final of the First Citizens Cup in December, saw a semblance of it when Creighton took the advance in the 86th minute before he later drilled the nail into the Central FC coffin three minutes later.
Yesterday's Results.
(Saturday 25 January)
Central FC 0 v La Horquetta Rangers 2 (Jamal Creighton 86, 89), 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium;
Defence Force 1 (Melvin Doxilly 59 Own-Goal) v Morvant Caledonia United 2 (Tev Lawrence 52, Joshua Alexander 71), 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Standings
Teams*P*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Points
1*Defence Force FC*8*5*2*1*12*8*4*17
2*Morvant Caledonia United*9*4*4*1*11*7*4*16
3*Police FC*8*4*2*2*13*7*6*14
4*Terminix La Horquetta Rangers*8*4*1*3*20*11*9*13
5*W Connection*7*3*3*1*13*6*7*12
6*Point Fortin Civic*7*3*3*1*11*7*4*12
7*Central FC*9*2*3*4*8*11*-3*9
8*San Juan Jabloteh*8*2*3*3*9*13*-4*9
9*AC Port of Spain*8*2*1*5*10*24*-14*7
10*Tiger Tanks Club Sando*8*1*3*4*7*12*-5*6
11*Cunupia FC*8*0*3*5*5*13*-8*3
Upcoming Fixtures
(Tuesday 28 January)
Central FC v Defence Force, 6pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground;
La Horquetta Rangers v Point Fortin Civic, 8pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground;
AC Port of Spain v Club Sando, 6pm, Diego Martin Sporting Complex;
San Juan Jabloteh v Cunupia FC, 8pm, Diego Martin Sporting Complex;
W Connection v Police FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
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Jabloteh jump AC PoS; plus T&T U-15 coach Jeffrey explains why he turned down job as Cooper’s assistant.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
If there are any virtues that San Juan Jabloteh technical director Keith Jeffrey lacks, let it not be said that confidence is one of them.
When Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy came calling, over the Christmas period, with the offer of Boys’ National Under-15 Team assistant coach—in what would have been Jeffrey’s first national appointment—the answer from the Jabloteh coach was immediate and firm.
No, thanks.
“The reason for turning down the job is I believe in terms of success—whether it is at Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Youth Pro League, CFU or Concacaf level—I feel I am more qualified than everyone else involved at youth level,” Jeffrey told Wired868. “I have coached at all those levels and won a trophy or two at almost all of them.”
Jeffrey’s portfolio stretches from Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) national titles with San Juan North Secondary in 2006 to the East Zone Primary School crown with La Pastora Government in 2019 as well as an armful of Youth Pro League titles and senior Pro League and Caribbean Club Championship runner-up finishes with Jabloteh.
Jeffrey insisted that, despite his title as technical director, he coaches all of the Jabloteh teams—youth and senior.
It is now a matter of record that Look Loy recommended Presentation College (San Fernando) and QPCC head coach Shawn Cooper to lead the Boys’ National Under-15 Team. Cooper led the National Under-17 Team to successive Concacaf quarterfinal finishes and also steered the Women’s National Senior Team into Concacaf battle last year.
The TTFA Board, however, disagreed with its technical committee. And Jeffrey became the only coaching appointment under the current administration that was made directly by the board.
“I was happy that it came out in the public domain that this is how I got the job,” said Jeffrey. “I would like to tell the TTFA board members thanks for believing in me. It is a job I will try my best at to make them proud.
“For the board to overrule the technical committee and give me the opportunity to serve, I am thankful and hope I can repay them in the future for the decision made.”
Last night, Jeffrey’s players made a statement to match in the adult Pro League as they whipped AC Port of Spain 5-2 in the opening game of a Hasely Crawford Stadium double header.
The result saw Jabloteh climb two places to eighth in the 11-team standings. If the league table does not look particularly impressive for the ‘San Juan Kings’, it is worth noting that Jabloteh started with five teenagers last night and used 15-year-old Jaheim Faustin off the bench.
Jeffrey admitted that there were pragmatic reasons for their youthful approach.
“Looking at the financial position of the club, as the technical director I made the decision to go with a younger team, who would cost the club less,” he said. “The idea is to let them gain some experience so they can be the real product down the road.”
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers have not been constrained by finances—at least not in the same way as their Pro League rivals. But yesterday marked another setback for the star-studded team, as they lost 2-0 to Morvant Caledonia United.
For the second straight week, Rangers spent much of the game with a numerical disadvantage, though.
Last week, defender Caleb Sturge was ejected for a rash tackle against Police FC, although Rangers went on to win 3-2. Yesterday, it was forward Isaiah Lee’s turn to see red, as he instinctively flung out an elbow during an entanglement with Caledonia captain Melvin Doxilly, just 35 minutes into the game.
It was a double blow for coach Dave Quamina, as Lee looks to be in his best form since joining the club late last year; and because Rangers, bizarrely, don’t seem to have another guy they trust at centre forward, despite the abundance of talent within their squad.
Venezuelan Johnny Noriega-Brito, a recent acquisition from Morvant Caledonia, played upfront for the first 45 minutes before being replaced by Keron ‘Ball Pest’ Cummings. At best, Cummings spent 10 minutes upfront while, for the other 35 minutes, he was all over the field and sometimes so deep that he was in line with his own back four.
Meanwhile, Tyrone Charles, who played upfront for Rangers during last year’s Ascension Invitational Tournament, seems permanently marooned on the flanks, where the sum of his contributions is a few dashes down the touchline and the odd teasing but indecisive set piece.
Even with a player short and some stellar names not pulling their weight, Rangers might have sewn up the match but for some fine goalkeeping by Caledonia’s Nigerian custodian Katibi Kolapo, who kept out goal-bound blasts by Cummings and the impressive Aikim Andrews.
Kolapo, incidentally, is in Trinidad as an agricultural sciences student at UWI. Rangers owner Richard Ferguson must have wished he found him first as his own goalkeeper, Jabarry St Hillaire, was at fault for the game’s opening item.
Caledonia flanker Joshua Alexander, almost certainly misused at right wing instead of his customary right back role, beat St Hilliare with a low, speculative attempt at his near post after the ‘Eastern Stallions’ won possession in opposition territory.
Rangers had just nine active players at the time, as Andrews was down for treatment.
And Caledonia substitute Jevick McFarlane added gloss to the score summary with a stoppage time item on the break, which ensured that stand-in coach Densill Theobald said ‘goodbye’ to a four game win-less streak.
The triumph took Morvant Caledonia to second place with 13 points, four points shy of Defence Force although the latter team have a game in hand. The Army/Coast Guard combination edged lowly Tiger Tanks Club Sando 3-2 in Couva today.
Rangers slipped from third to fifth place behind W Connection, who defeated table proppers Cunupia FC 2-0 yesterday to move from sixth to third.
Point Fortin Civic also made progress up the standings yesterday as their 2-1 win over Central FC saw them motor to sixth place with the ‘Couva Sharks’ dropping to seventh. Once more, Kerville Jeremiah led from upfront for Civic as his first half item meant he has scored in four successive matches for coach Dexter Cyrus.
Civic have scored eight times in their six outings so far this season. Jeremiah contributed five of those goals himself.
The goals were flowing in Port of Spain too and, for once, Jabloteh were on the right end of them. In the opening six matches, they scored just twice—the lowest offensive return of any team in the 2019/20 season. Yesterday, they blew a flat AC Port of Spain team away.
AC, steered by former Joe Public coach Walt Noriega, even had the benefit of a head start as midfielder Jean-Luc Rochford curled home an excellent free kick after just four minutes.
Jabloteh drew level in the 14th minute with a close ranged finish by flanker Tyrese ‘Boy Boy’ Bailey, off an assist by forward Justin Araujo-Wilson.
Bailey is 18 years old; Araujo-Wilson is 17.
“Tyrese [Bailey], Justin [Araujo-Wilson] and Nickell [Orr] are some of the younger players who we want to send on trial in Europe in May or June, so we are giving them the chance to get some experience now,” said Jeffrey. “Jabloteh would benefit as long as they are successful… In the modern day, this is the age that European clubs prefer to get players.”
Versatile midfielder Micah Lansiquot, one of the squad’s more senior players at just 22, put Jabloteh ahead one minute later with a strike from just inside the opposing box. And the third goal came in the 35th minute as AC defender La Shawn Roberts inadvertently turned in a cross by promising 19-year-old Jabloteh left back Brandon ‘Sprite’ Semper.
Rochford’s precise free kicks apart, the biggest issue for Jabloteh was one of their own making as Lansiquot had a mini-meltdown and initially refused to be placated by Jeffrey.
“Because Micah has a lot of energy, the skipper (Nical Stephens) is always calling on him to do what he has to do,” said Jeffrey. “It is a big man’s game and a game of passion and adrenaline, so some people communicate in different ways. Last night, it went a little overboard and it was my job to reel it in.
“[…] I called [Lansiquot] to the side to calm him down and remind him that the captain is only carrying out orders.”
There was a more positive display of passion from central defender Shakiyl ‘Pampers’ Phillip, who looked to be close to tears as he broke away to create Jabloteh’s fourth item in the 53rd minute, which was expertly finished by front man Renaldo Francois, and then scored the fifth himself from the penalty spot.
AC did get a lifeline through a fine finish by Sedale McLean in the 71st minute. And they might have had another goal in the 86th minute but for a penalty block by Jabloteh goalkeeper Christopher Bigette, off opposing forward Rashad Hyacenth.
Jeffrey chose to see the glass as half-full, as he toasted their most comprehensive win of the season. It is a work in progress though and he gave an example in his guidance of Araujo-Wilson, a former National Under-17 forward and Fatima College student.
“After every game, I have to remind him of what a forward needs to do to make it in Europe,” said Jeffrey. “For example, you can never allow the [opposing] two defenders to be comfortable when they have the ball. What [Araujo-Wilson] does a lot is ball watch and his agents asked me to add [defensive awareness] to his game.”
Poor concentration, the Jabloteh coach explained, is a common trait with players on the twin island republic.
“I remember talking to an international coach who said Trinidad football has talent in abundance but talent does not win competitions,” said Jeffrey. “Trinidad’s biggest problem is they concentrate between 15 to 20 minutes. So what happen to the next 65 minutes? That is where the problem lies.”
Although Jeffrey is better known on the local front as a senior coach, he says he prefers to work with the younger age groups.
“I think coaching the youths has made me a better coach at the higher level,” said Jeffrey, who has a TTFA C-License and certificates in Psychology in Sport and Physical Educations. “Coaches like [Pep] Guardiola talk about the benefit of coaching at the younger level before they step up. At the younger level, the children absorb and retain information; whereas at the senior level, the players are so set in their ways of playing that it becomes harder.
“The young male athletes are not students of the game while I have made myself a student of the game by learning and teaching the different styles of the game. The modern day player is only interested in social media and they only study the game while they are training. Once they jump in their vehicle, everything jumps out the window.
“It is very difficult as a coach to bring professionalism to the modern player. For that reason, I prefer to work with the youths with the hope that they buy in to what they need to advance their game and go forward.”
Jeffrey thinks the best way to keep the players engaged is camps and high-level practice games and he hopes the TTFA can afford him both as National Under-15 coach. Although he turned down the chance to be Cooper’s assistant, he said he is enthusiastic about assisting Angus Eve on the National Under-17 Team, which plays competitively in August.
As National Under-15 Team head coach, he hopes to create a team that presses high up the field and utilises a mobile front four. He is clear on what he hopes to pass on to his players—on and off the field.
“We will do a lot of lectures and personal enhancement and I will encourage them to do self-analysis and things to help them be better persons and better players,” he said. “When you are a better person, you will be a better player… I am the kind of coach who doesn’t only talk the talk. I still play a lot of football and keep myself fit, so I am able to demonstrate to players by not only talking it but by action—whether it is in showing them the proper technique to hit the ball over 25 metres with your right or left foot. I coach by being the example.
“I am happy to be afforded the opportunity to be in the national set up and I will put my best foot forward.”
(Teams)
San Juan Jabloteh (4-2-3-1): 30.Christopher Bigette (GK); 13.Keshawn Hutchinson, 20.Shakiyl Phillip, 12.Sévère Verilus, 16.Brandon Semper; 4.Nical Stephens (captain), 11.Micah Lansiquot; 23.Tyrese Bailey, 10.Renaldo Francois, 17.Nickell Orr (18.Jair Edwards 50); 25.Justin Araujo-Wilson (27.Jaheim Faustin 68).
Unused substitutes: 35.Jesse Peters (GK), 2.Kerdell Sween, 8.Dellon Jaggasar, 15.Kadeem Hutchinson, 22.Jercole Pierre.
Coach: Keith Jeffrey
AC Port of Spain (4-4-2): 26.Javon Sample (GK); 2.La Shawn Roberts, 4.Brendon Creed, 17.Kyle Sylvester, 24.Rakim Cabie; 13.Shem Clauzel (27.Dominic Douglas 46), 12.Jean-Luc Rochford, 28.Sowande Prieto (19.Rivaldo Coryat 46), 7.Sedale McLean; 9.Rashad Hyacenth, 18.Kordell Samuel.
Unused substitutes: 31.Kwame Farrell (GK), 3.Osei Charles, 11.Kyle Bartholomew, 14.Andel Noray, 22.Darian Parks.
Coach: Walt Noriega
Referee: Nikolai Nyron
Wired868 Man of the Match: Shakiyl Phillip (San Juan Jabloteh)
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All teams could experiment with youth. Nothing would happen if they lose and came in last.
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Here's a useful exercise for someone: determine the average age of each Pro League team and then refer to what we've stated has been the average age of the NT.
What yuh think yuh will find/learn?
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Anyone familiar with Walt Noriega, the AC coach.
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WATCH: Defence Force had their unbeaten run snapped by second-placed Morvant Caledonia United, with a 2-1 loss in a top of the table clash.
https://www.youtube.com/v/iXKvoZs2_sE
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Morvant here showing some of the discipline and commitment that Theobald showed as a player.
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Morvant here showing some of the discipline and commitment that Theobald showed as a player.
True. They held out. But DF appears to be the best team at this moment. Are we going back to the days when DF used to dominate? We shall see.
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Morvant here showing some of the discipline and commitment that Theobald showed as a player.
True. They held out. But DF appears to be the best team at this moment. Are we going back to the days when DF used to dominate? We shall see.
I agree. Many of their characteristics are simply superior, yet they were undone by simplicity.
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Army stops Central FC 2-1.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Reon Moore scored a goal in each as Defence Force came from behind to beat Central FC 2-1 to maintain their lead at the top of the 11-club T&T Pro League at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta on Tuesday, night.
Going into the match on the back of their first loss to Morvant Caledonia United, by a similar 2-1 margin on Saturday, the Army/Coast-Guard combination was desperate to get back to winning ways, with the quartet of third-placed Police FC, La Horquetta Rangers, defending champions W Connection and Pt Fortin Civic hot on their heels.
However, Central FC, beaten 2-0 by Rangers also on Saturday, also came out with intentions of pulling off the upset and took the lead inside the first two minutes thanks to former Finland-based striker Akim Armstrong.
That lead would last until the 22nd minute when Moore drew the "Teteron Men" level for both teams to go in 1-1 at the half-time interval.
With 12 minutes left in an evenly matched second-half, Moore would net the decisive item for Defence Force to pick up a sixth win in nine matches this season for 20 points, three ahead of reigning First Citizens Cup winners' Police FC.
At the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Christian Thomas also scored twice to lead Police FC to a 4-0 hammering of W Connection.
Thomas opened the scoring in the tenth minute and added his second in the 52nd, while Clevon Mc Fee (65th) and Jameel Perry (70th), also added second-half strikes to complete the dominant showing by coach Richard Hood's men.
In the second match at La Horquetta, the star-studded Rangers continued their free-scoring with a 5-1 trashing of Pt Fortin Civic led by a double from Isaiah Lee.
Lee got things started for Rangers with goals in the third and seventh minutes followed by Aikim Andrews in the 14th minute for a 3-0 advantage.
Rangers did not let up their offensive onslaught in the first-half with Junior Assoon and Jamal Creighton, the league's joint-top scorer with six goals, adding to the tally in the 27th and 42nd minutes respectively for a 5-0 cushion at the interval.
The second half was much of an anti-climax for the home spectators as Rangers completely lost their way and failed to add to their 20 goals on the season before Daniel Diaz netted the 91st-minute consolation for Pt Fortin.
Down at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Diego Martin, AC Port-of-Spain added to the struggles of coach Angus Eve and Tiger Tanks Club Sando with a 1-0 triumph thanks to Kordell Samuel's 84th-minute winner in the opening contest.
And in the night's feature match, national youth team player and son of former 'Strike Squad' midfielder Marvin Faustin. Jaheim Faustin scored in the 78th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw for San Juan Jabloteh after Kevon "Showtime" Woodley's 50th go-ahead strike for cellar-placed Cunupia FC.
RELATED NEWS
Defence Force beat Central FC 2-1 to stay on top standings.
By Sherdon Pierre (Newsday).
POLICE FC and Terminix La Horquetta Rangers had whipping victories but Defence Force's narrow 2-1 win against Central FC kept them three points clear on top the TT Pro League standings after round one, match day ten, on Tuesday.
Central FC's Akim Armstrong gave his team the best possible start by opening the scoring in the second minute of play at the La Horquetta Recreation Grounds. The table toppers, Defence Force equalised through Reon More twenty minutes later when he met Brent Sam's header-pass with a classy finish. On the stroke of halftime, Armstrong's bicycle-kick should have been his second goal but returning army goalkeeper Sheldon Clarke made a perfect close-range save to keep the scores leveled at the interval.
The game seemed to be heading for a draw until Moore grabbed his second goal and the eventual winner. The tricky striker cut in from the right wing and neatly finished past the diving goalie Jadel Poon-Lewis.
The visiting Point Fortin Civic team failed to cope with the speedy strikers of La Horquetta Rangers as well as their smaller than usual ground that is perfectly suited to their style of play. Returning from his one game suspension, forward Isaiah Lee greeted an inch-perfect cross with an unstoppable header in the third minute. Four minutes later, Lee got his second with a calmly-finished shot to beat Point Fortin's keeper Stephon Seepersad for the two-nil lead. There was no letting up as in-form attacker Aikim Andrews scored a well-composed goal to further extend the lead to 3-0. Rangers ‘Junior Assoon riffled home his team's fourth goal after a series of attempts on goal in the six-yard box.
Point Fortin's skipper Justin Sadoo tried to rally his troops by giving them some momentum with slick passes but his team-mates weren’t finishing in the business end. To make matters worse, his opposing skipper Jamal Creighton received a one-time pass from Lee and slapped it home far-post beating a helpless Seepersad for a handful of goals within 42minutes.
Despite being five-nil down, the Southerners had a spirited performance creating several chances but couldn't capitalise until substitute Daniel Diaz scored a beautifully chipped goal in the 91st minute to end the game 5-1 in favour of Rangers.
Police FC hammered W Connection four-nil, at the Ato Boldon Stadium, to stay in second place on 17 points, three points behind Defence Force and one point ahead of both Rangers and Morvant/ Caledonia United. Utility player Christian Thomas scored a brace in the (10th,52nd) while Clevon McFee scored in the 65th and Jameel Perry (70th).
AC Port of Spain recorded a late one-nil victory against Tiger Tanks Club Sando, who themselves wish they could have gathered some needed points. Kordell Samuel scored the lone goal in the 84th minute at their home ground, Diego Martin Sporting Complex. In the other match, at same venue, San Juan Jabloteh and Cunupia FC played to a 1-1 draw. Kevon "Showtime" Woodley open the scoring in the 50th minute but Jabloteh tied the game in minute 78 through 15-year-old national youth player Jaheim Faustin.
Tuesday's Full Results
(Tuesday 28 January)
Central FC 1 (Akim Armstrong 2) v Defence Force 2 (Reon Moore 22, 78), 6pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground;
La Horquetta Rangers 5 (Isaiah Lee 3, 7, Aikim Andrews 14, Junior Assoon 27, Jamal Creighton 42) v Point Fortin Civic 1 (Daniel Diaz 90+1), 8pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground;
AC Port of Spain 1 (Kordell Samuel 84) v Club Sando 0, 6pm, Diego Martin Sporting Complex;
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Jaheim Faustin 78) v Cunupia FC 1 (Kevon Woodley 50), 8pm, Diego Martin Sporting Complex;
W Connection 0v Police FC 4 (Christian Thomas 10, 52, Clevon McFee 65, Jameel Perry 70), 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Standings
Teams*P*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Points
1*Defence Force FC*9*6*2*1*14*9*5*20
2*Police FC*9*5*2*2*17*7*10*17
3*Terminix La Horquetta Rangers*9*5*1*3*25*12*13*16
4*Morvant Caledonia United*9*4*4*1*11*7*4*16
5*W Connection*8*3*3*2*13*10*3*12
6*Point Fortin Civic*8*3*3*2*12*12*0*12
7*San Juan Jabloteh*9*2*4*3*10*14*-4*10
8*AC Port of Spain*9*3*1*5*11*24*-13*10
9*Central FC*10*2*3*5*9*13*-4*9
10*Tiger Tanks Club Sando*9*1*3*5*7*13*-6*6
11*Cunupia FC*9*0*4*5*6*14*-8*4
Leading Scorers
6 - Keion Wilson (Police FC), Kervile Jeremiah (Point Fortin Civic), Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers)
4 - Keron Cummings (La Horquetta Rangers), Rashad Hyacenth (AC PoS), Dimitrie Apai (W Connection), Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers),
3 - Shaqkeem Joseph (Club Sando), Sean Bonval (Central FC), Aaron Richards (Morvant Caledonia United), Kareem Freitas, Christian Thomas (Police FC)
Upcoming Fixtures
(Friday 31 January)
W Connection v Club Sando, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
San Juan Jabloteh v Police FC, 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
La Horquetta Rangers v Cunupia FC, 7pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground.
Point Fortin Civic v Defence Force, 7pm, Mahaica Oval.
(Sunday 2 February)
AC Port of Spain v Morvant Caledonia United, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium.
Central FC - Bye
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Anyone familiar with Walt Noriega, the AC coach.
He sounded familiar - coach for Stern John's football academy. Did he coach at Central before? Also is he related to Wesley Noriega?
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Anyone familiar with Walt Noriega, the AC coach.
He sounded familiar - coach for Stern John's football academy. Did he coach at Central before? Also is he related to Wesley Noriega?
I know Walt Noriega was assistant coach to Michael McComie at Joe Public FC (https://socawarriors.net/archive/joe_public.htm)in 2007. JPFC Technical Director was Keith Look Loy then. And of course he now coaches AC Port of Spain.
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Anyone familiar with Walt Noriega, the AC coach.
He sounded familiar - coach for Stern John's football academy. Did he coach at Central before? Also is he related to Wesley Noriega?
Honestly, did not know this guy.
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Anyone familiar with Walt Noriega, the AC coach.
He sounded familiar - coach for Stern John's football academy. Did he coach at Central before? Also is he related to Wesley Noriega?
Honestly, did not know this guy.
He may be known to some by his nickname ... which as I post this escapes me.
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Defence Force extends Pro League lead.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Three different players netted second-half goals as three-time champions Defence Force trounced host Pt Fortin Civic 3-0 to widened their lead at the top of the T&T Pro League standings on Friday night.
Playing in the lone match at the Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin, the "Teteron Men" found the going tough early on and went into the half-time interval locked at 0-0 with Pt Fortin Civic.
However, southerner Hashim Arcia, formerly of W Connection finally broke the deadlock for the visitors from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute.
Two minutes from full-time ex-T&T international and the all-time T&T Pro League leading scorer, Devorn Jorsling with 150-plus goals to his name added another in the 88th minute before Reon Moore made it three goals in two matches with his team's third in the 92nd.
The win lifted Defence Force to 23 points from ten matches, four ahead of new second-placed club Terminix La Horquetta Rangers who crushed cellar-placed Cunupia FC 8-1 at La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta.
T&T international Tyrone Charles started and ended the onslaught for Rangers with goals in the first and 92nd minutes while Jamal Creighton (56th & 61st), the league's top scorer with eight goals, and Isaiah Lee (60th & 68th) also netted twice each in the lopsided contest.
The duo of Kishun Seecharan (48th) and Aikim Andrews (77th) were also on target for Rangers who have now netted a league-high 33 goals in ten matches, while Kevon "Showtime" Woodley got Cunupia's lone item in the 20th minute, a penalty for his team to go into the half-time at 1-1.
At the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, San Juan Jabloteh and Tiger Tanks Club Sando both recorded 3-2 victories over First Citizens Cup winners' Police FC and reigning league champions and record six-time winners W Connection, respectively.
In the opener, the Angus Eve-coached Club Sando looked on course for a much-needed win when Keron Cornwall (21st) and Michael Basdeo (32nd penalty) netted for a 2-0 lead at the interval.
On the resumption, Neil Benjamin Jr sliced the lead in the half for the "Savonetta Boys" in the 61st minute, but Shaqkeem Joseph ten restored Club Sando's two-goal cushion at 3-1 with ten minutes left in the match.
Two minutes later, Nathaniel James got another for W Connection to set up a tight finish, but at the end Club Sando held on for the much-needed win.
Police FC went into their match against Jabloteh confident of picking up maximum points and within three minutes of the kick-off, Christian Thomas had them on their way in the second match at Couva, only for Nical Stephens to level the score three minutes to the half-time whistle.
Seven minutes into the second half, Stevens went from hero to villain when he turned the ball into his net to give Police FC a 2-1 lead.
The youthful Jabloteh line-up did not give up and in the 78th minute, Kadeem Hutchinson drew them level before Renaldo Francois snatched an 88th-minute winner.
Friday's Results
(Friday 31 January)
W Connection 2 (Neil Benjamin 61st, Nathaniel James 82nd) v Club Sando 3 (Keron Cornwall 21st, Michael Basdeo 32nd-Pen, Shaqkeem Joseph 80th), 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Nical Stephens 42nd, Kadeem Hutchinson 78th, Renaldo Francois 88th) v Police FC 2 (Christian Thomas 3rd, Nical Stephens 52nd Own-Goal), 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
La Horquetta Rangers 8 (Tyrone Charles 1st, 92nd, Jamal Creighton 56th, 61st, Isaiah Lee 60th, 68th, Kishun Seecharan 48th, Aikim Andrews 77th) v Cunupia FC 1 (Kevon Woodley 20th-Pen), 7pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground.
Point Fortin Civic 0 v Defence Force 3 (Hashim Arcia 62nd-Pen, Devorn Jorsling 88th-Pen, Reon Moore 92nd), 7pm, Mahaica Oval.
Upcoming Fixtures
(Sunday 2 February)
AC Port of Spain v Morvant Caledonia United, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium.
Central FC - Bye
(Tuesday 4 February)
Police FC v Cunupia FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
San Juan Jabloteh v Tiger Tanks Club Sando, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field;
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers v Defence Force, 7pm, La Horquetta;
(Wednesday 5 February)
AC Port of Spain v Central FC, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field;
W Connection v Morvant Caledonia United, 7pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Latest Team Standings
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Defence Force FC*10*7*2*1*17*9*23
2. L.H Rangers*10*6*1*3*33*13*19
3. Police FC*10*5*2*3*19*10*17
4. Morvant Caledonia*9*4*4*1*11*7*16
5. Jabloteh*10*3*4*3*13*16*13
6. W Connection*9*3*3*3*15*13*12
7. Point Fortin Civic*9*3*3*3*12*15*12
8. AC Port-of-Spain*9*3*1*5*11*24*10
9. Central FC *10*2*3*5*9*13*9
10. Club Sando*10*2*3*5*10*15*9
11. Cunupia FC*10*0*4*6*7*22*4
Leading Scorers
8 - Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers)
6 - Keion Wilson (Police FC), Kervile Jeremiah (Pt Fortin Civic), Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers),
4 - Keron Cummings, Tyrone Charles (La Horquetta Rangers), Rashad Hyacenth (AC PoS), Dimitrie Apai (W Connection), Christian Thomas (Police FC), Shaqkeem Joseph (Club Sando)
3 - Sean Bonval (Central FC), Aaron Richards (Morvant Caledonia), Kareem Freitas, Kevon Woodley (Cunupia FC)
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TT Pro-League Goal-Scorers
Club Name Total
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers Jamal Creigton 8
Point Fortin Kerville Jeremiah 6
Police FC Keion Wilson 6
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers Isaiah Lee 6
AC Port of Spain Rashad Hyacenth 4
Club Sando Shaqkeem Joseph 4
Police FC Christian Thomas 4
Police FC Kareem Freitas 4
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers Keron Cummings 4
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers Tyrone Charles 4
W Connection Dimitri Apai 4
Caledonia AIA Aaron Richards 3
Central Sean Bonval 3
Cunupia F.C. Kevon Woodley 3
Defence Force Devorn Jorsling 3
Defence Force Reon Moore 3
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers Kishun Seecharan 3
W Connection Jevaughn Humphrey 3
AC Port of Spain John-Paul Rochford 2
AC Port of Spain Kordell Samuel 2
AC Port of Spain Sedale Mc lean 2
Caledonia AIA Jevick Mac Farlane 2
Caledonia AIA Joshua Alexander 2
Caledonia AIA Tev Lawerence 2
Central Che'raul Benny 2
Defence Force Hashim Arcia 2
Defence Force Jerwyn Balthazar 2
Defence Force Own Goal 2
Point Fortin Kern Edwards 2
Police FC Jameel Perry 2
San Juan Jabloteh Micah Lansiquot 2
San Juan Jabloteh Own Goal 2
San Juan Jabloteh Renaldo Francois 2
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers Aikim Andrews 2
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers Samuel Delice 2
W Connection Kurt Frederick 2
W Connection Neil Benjamin 2
AC Port of Spain Jean-luc Rochford 1
Caledonia AIA Raphael Joseph 1
Caledonia AIA Ryan Jordan 1
Central Akim Armstrong 1
Central Damani Richards 1
Central Kesean St.Rose 1
Central Shakiel Henry 1
Club Sando Hughton Hector 1
Club Sando Jodel Brown 1
Club Sando Kadeem Gittens 1
Club Sando Keron Cornwall 1
Club Sando Michael Basdeo 1
Club Sando Own Goal 1
Cunupia F.C. Dwane James 1
Cunupia F.C. Hakim Legall 1
Cunupia F.C. Rafael Maestre 1
Cunupia F.C. Xavier Rajpaul 1
Defence Force Aaron Lester 1
Defence Force Darius Ollivierra 1
Defence Force Jelani Felix 1
Defence Force Rodell Elock 1
Defence Force Shaquille Bertrand 1
Point Fortin Daniel Diaz 1
Point Fortin Ronell Paul 1
Point Fortin Shakuile Williams 1
Point Fortin Tyrel Emmanuel 1
Police FC Clevon McFee 1
Police FC Juma Clarence 1
Police FC Own Goal 1
San Juan Jabloteh Jaheim Faustin 1
San Juan Jabloteh Jair Edwards 1
San Juan Jabloteh Justin Wilson 1
San Juan Jabloteh Kadeem Hutchinson 1
San Juan Jabloteh Nical Stephen 1
San Juan Jabloteh Shakiyl Phillip 1
San Juan Jabloteh Tyrese Bailey 1
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers Anselm Jackson 1
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers Junior Asson 1
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers Kadeem Corbin 1
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers Kishon Hackshaw 1
W Connection Isaiah Hudson 1
W Connection Michaeel Gem Gordon 1
W Connection Nathaniel James 1
W Connection Own Goal 1
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Yesterday's Results
(Sunday 2 February)
AC Port of Spain 0 v Morvant Caledonia United 0, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium.
Latest Team Standings
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Defence Force FC*10*7*2*1*17*9*23
2. Terminix La Horquetta Rangers*10*6*1*3*33*13*19
3. Police FC*10*5*2*3*19*10*17
4. Morvant Caledonia United*10*4*5*1*11*7*17
5. San Juan Jabloteh*10*3*4*3*13*16*13
6. W Connection FC*9*3*3*3*15*13*12
7. Point Fortin Civic FC*9*3*3*3*12*15*12
8. Athletic Club Port-of-Spain*10*3*2*5*11*24*11
9. Central FC *10*2*3*5*9*13*9
10. Tiger Tanks Club Sando FC*10*2*3*5*10*15*9
11. Cunupia FC*10*0*4*6*7*22*4
Upcoming Fixtures
(Tuesday 4 February)
Police FC v Cunupia FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
San Juan Jabloteh v Tiger Tanks Club Sando, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field;
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers v Defence Force, 7pm, La Horquetta;
(Wednesday 5 February)
AC Port of Spain v Central FC, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field;
W Connection v Morvant Caledonia United, 7pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
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Army blanks Rangers to open 4-point lead.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Three-time champions Defence Force overcame the early dismissal of defender Curtis Gonsalves to blank Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 2-0 and widened their lead in the T&T Pro League on Tuesday night.
Going into the highly anticipated encounter at the La Horquetta Rangers Recreation Ground in Phase II, La Horquetta, Defence Force who last won the title in the 2012/2013 season held a four-point lead over Rangers.
The "Teteron Men" also went into the match on the heels off 3-0 road win at Pt Fortin Civic while Rangers, who are on their hunt for their maiden Pro League crown and were 8-1 victors against cellar-placed Cunupia FC.
And it was the host who was handed an early advantage when Defence Force national defender Curtis Gonsalves was issued a straight red card by referee Quincy Williams for violent conduct against Kishun Seecharan.
However, Rangers who have netted 33 goals in ten matches so far this season failed to capitalise on their man advantage as both teams went into the half-time interval locked at 0-0.
Nine minutes into the second-half, Defence Force took a surprise lead through Hashim Arcia with his third goal of the campaign, and two minutes from the full-time whistle, Reon Moore sealed all three points for the visitors to move to 26 points from 11 matches, seven ahead of Rangers.
At the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, third-placed Police FC with 18 points dropped two valuable points after they were held to a disappointing goalless draw by cellar-placed Cunupia FC.
And at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, Mucurapo, Tiger Tanks Club Sando followed up their 3-2 win over reigning champions, W Connection with a 5-0 hammering of San Juan Jabloteh.
The duo of Shaqkeem Joseph (17th) and Kevon Williams (45th) were both on target in the first-half for Club Sando to lead 2-0 at the half before Keron Cornwall added a second-half brace (76th & 81st) followed by a 90th item by Luke Charles.
Yesterday (Wednesday, February 5), AC Port-of-Spain hosted Central FC at Couva while the match between W Connection and Morvant Caledonia United was postponed to a date to be determined.
Leading Goalscorers.
8 - Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers)
6 - Keion Wilson (Police FC), Kerville Jeremiah (Pt Fortin Civic), Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers);
5 - Shaqkeem Joseph (Club Sando);
4 - Keron Cummings, Tyrone Charles (La Horquetta Rangers), Rashad Hyacenth (AC PoS), Dimitrie Apai (W Connection), Christian Thomas, Kareem Freitas (Police FC), Reon Moore (Defence Force).
Yesterday's Results
(Tuesday 4 February)
Police FC 0 v Cunupia FC 0, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
San Juan Jabloteh 0 v Tiger Tanks Club Sando 5 (Shaqkeem Joseph 17, Kevon Williams 45, Keron Cornwall 76, 81, Luke Charles 90), 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field;
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 0 v Defence Force 2 (Hashim Arcia 54, Ren Moore 88), 7pm, La Horquetta.
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 11 8 2 1 19 9 +10 26
2 La Horquetta Rangers FC 11 6 1 4 33 15 +18 19
3 Police FC 11 5 3 3 19 10 +9 18
4 Morvant Caledonia United 10 4 5 1 11 7 +4 17
5 San Juan Jabloteh FC 11 3 4 4 13 21 -8 13
6 W Connection FC 9 3 3 3 15 13 +2 12
7 Club Sando FC 11 3 3 5 15 15 0 12
8 Point Fortin Civic FC 9 3 3 3 12 15 -3 12
9 Athletic Club Port of Spain 10 3 2 5 11 24 -13 11
10 Central FC 10 2 3 5 9 13 -4 9
11 Cunupia FC 11 0 5 6 7 22 -15 5
Upcoming Fixtures
(Wednesday 5 February)
AC Port of Spain v Central FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
W Connection P-P Morvant Caledonia United, 7pm, Ato Boldon Stadium - Postponed
(Friday 7 February)
Central FC v San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Morvant Caledonia United v 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
(Saturday 8 February)
Cunupia FC v Club Sando, 3:15pm, Larry Gomes Stadium
To be televised live on TTT
(Sunday 9 February)
AC Port of Spain v La Horquetta Rangers, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium
W Connection v Point Fortin Civic, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
RELATED NEWS
‘Demon’ spooks La Horquetta again, as Defence Force down Rangers in cracking clash.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Former East Mucurapo Secondary schoolboy Aaron ‘Demon’ Enill stole the plaudits again at Phase 2, La Horquetta as Defence Force FC left the swanky east Trinidad venue with all three points in an impressive 2-0 Pro League win over hosts Terminix La Horquetta Rangers.
The result saw the Army/Coast Guard combination surge seven points clear at the top of the 11-team standings as they hunt their fourth Pro League championship title. If successful, the ‘Teteron Boys’ will pull alongside San Juan Jabloteh as the Pro League’s second most successful football team. W Connection rule the roost with six titles.
Rangers are in second place at present.
Elsewhere yesterday, third placed Police FC missed a chance to go second as they were held goalless by table proppers, Cunupia FC, at the Ato Boldon Stadium. While, in a clash between National Under-17 Team head coach Angus Eve (Tiger Tanks Club Sando) and Keith Jeffrey (San Juan Jabloteh), Club Sando ran out emphatic 5-0 winners at the Hasely Crawford Stadium training field.
The win propelled Sando three places up the standings to seventh while Jabloteh stay fifth. And, in today’s lone match, ninth placed AC Port of Spain and tenth placed Central FC played to a 1-1 draw at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
The fixture between fourth placed Morvant Caledonia and sixth placed W Connection, scheduled for Couva this evening, was postponed.
Morvant Caledonia, who trail Defence Force by nine points, have four wins, five draws and a solitary defeat from their 10 outings and often lacked the offensive punch necessary to put away opponents and match pace with the league leaders.
Their tame challenge leaves Defence Force sniffing history. The Teteron Boys were the Pro League’s first champions as they claimed the inaugural crown in 1999. And, quite possibly, they might be the last.
The new William Wallace-led Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), with Super League president Keith Look Loy a major influence over technical matters, vowed to institute a new three-tiered competition that envelops the Pro League and TTSL competitions. And their projected start date is roughly mid-2020.
Should the various parties find consensus and funding, it would signal a seismic shift in the structure of the local game with the devil in the details—as far as what is at stake for clubs and, by extension, their players.
For the 2019/20 season, the ‘Demon’ has been between the uprights for the Defence Force. And, not for the first time, Rangers could not manage a successful exorcism.
On the last occasion that the two teams met in La Horquetta, Enill saved a penalty from Rangers forward Tyrone Charles in a goalless draw—en route to Defence Force lifting the first Ascension title.
Last night, Enill haunted the hosts again with another penalty save as coach Lloyd Andrews’ troops pulled off a 2-0 win in an electric affair. And this time, they only needed 10 players to stop Rangers.
The match was just 19 minutes old when defender Curtis ‘Boyo’ Gonzales, the Ascension Invitation MVP, needlessly barged into opposing flanker Kishun Seecharan. Referee Kwinsi Williams had already whistled for a foul by Seecharan on Defence Force stopper Rodell Elcock when Gonzales flew on with elbow raised and the official felt obliged to show the red card.
The visitors started with a 3-5-2 formation with Gonzales operating as sweeper, to negate Rangers’ dangerous counter attacking ploy. Andrews and assistant coach Hutson ‘Barber’ Charles opted to shuffle their starting team rather than turn to the bench, as midfielder Aaron Lester dropped into defence while attacker Adrian Welch joined playmaker Hashim Arcia in midfield.
Rangers were the better team for the rest of the first half but could not find a way past Enill. The goalkeeper fended away a stinging right footer from opposing captain Jamal Creighton in the the 25th minute before he came up with yet another save from the spot.
The penalty call itself was debatable. Defence Force left wing back Jelani Felix missed a deep cross from Ross Russell Jr and his back was turned when Seecharan headed the ball against his arm.
Williams was deaf to the ‘Army’ protests. But Enill dove to his left to keep out a low effort by Rangers defender Jevon Morris while Charles hit the rebound overbar.
And the first half ended in frenetic style, as Army forward Brent Sam blasted against the Rangers upright from an improbable angle in the 44th minute while, seconds later, Enill made arguably his best save of the night to deny opposing forward Isaiah Lee from 18 yards.
Up in the stands, National Senior Team head coach Terry Fenwick and his assistant Derek King might have been thinking that there is life in the local top flight competition after all.
In all four of Rangers’ lopsided home wins, they scored within the opening five minutes before ripping AC, Jabloteh, Point Fortin Civic and Cunupia to shreds on the counter as they tried to get back into the game.
After 17 competitive matches in La Horquetta across the Ascension and Pro League competitions, Rangers failed to be ahead by the halftime interval on just six occasions. In all six instances, they failed to win at all—as they lost once each to Morvant Caledonia, Police and Defence Force and drew against Club Sando (twice) and Army.
Eight minutes into the second half, Quamina’s entertainers fell behind as defender Jesus Perez and goalkeeper Jabari St Hillaire both failed to clear their lines and Arcia pounced to drive the ball into an unprotected net.
Seecharan almost conjured up an equaliser, midway through the second half, with a venomous left footer from distance that Enill tipped overbar. But Defence Force looked comfortable enough once ahead and doubled their lead in the 88th minute, after another farcical moment at the back by the host team.
On this occasion, Russell and St Hillaire failed to deal with a straightforward, long diagonal ball and substitute Reon Moore got on the end of it for another simple finish.
At the final whistle, Defence Force players held up the jersey of teammate Jules Lee who suffered a broken leg in training on Monday. It was a thoughtful gesture that hinted at the camaraderie within their camp.
It is the Demon in the gloves that would give the Rangers players sleepless nights, though.
(Teams)
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers (4-4-2): 20.Jabari St Hillaire (GK); 99.Anselm Jackson, 18.Jevon Morris (31.Junior Asson 70), 26.Jesus Perez, 17.Ross Russell Jr; 7.Aikim Andrews, 8.Jamal Creighton (captain), 15.Keron Cummings, 9.Kishun Seecharan; 10.Tyrone Charles, 27.Isaiah Lee (77.Samuel Delice 63).
Unused substitutes: 29.Emmanuel John (GK), 5.Leslie Russell, 12.Caleb Sturge, 25.Michael Yaw Darko, 32.Yohannes Richardson.
Coach: Dave Quamina
Defence Force FC (3-1-4-1-1): 80.Aaron Enill (GK); 23.Jamali Garcia, 17.Curtis Gonzales [Red card 19], 6.Rodell Elcock; 37.Cassim Kellar; 5.Jerome McIntyre, 10.Hashim Arcia, 27.Aaron Lester, 7.Jelani Felix; 70.Adrian Welch (99.Jerwyn Balthazar 79); 8.Brent Sam (18.Reon Moore 67).
Unused substitutes: 1.Andre Marchan (GK), 4.Kevon Blackman, 9.Devorn Jorsling, 22.Darius Ollivierra, 45.Dylon King.
Coach: Lloyd Andrews
Referee: Kwinsi Williams
Wired868 Man of the Match: Aaron Enill (Defence Force)
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WATCH: The Defence Force footballers remained hot with another victory to their credit as they blanked second-placed La Horquetta Rangers 2-0.
https://www.youtube.com/v/US8H9EFPrFU
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Yesterday's Results.
(Wednesday 5 February)
AC Port of Spain 1 (John-Paul Rochford 75) v Central FC 1 (Akim Armstrong 25), 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 11 8 2 1 19 9 +10 26
2 La Horquetta Rangers FC 11 6 1 4 33 15 +18 19
3 Police FC 11 5 3 3 19 10 +9 18
4 Morvant Caledonia United 10 4 5 1 11 7 +4 17
5 San Juan Jabloteh FC 11 3 4 4 13 21 -8 13
6 W Connection FC 9 3 3 3 15 13 +2 12
7 Club Sando FC 11 3 3 5 15 15 0 12
8 Point Fortin Civic FC 9 3 3 3 12 15 -3 12
9 Athletic Club Port of Spain 11 3 3 5 12 25 -13 12
10 Central FC 11 2 4 5 10 14 -4 10
11 Cunupia FC 11 0 5 6 7 22 -15 5
Upcoming Fixtures
(Friday 7 February)
Central FC v San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Morvant Caledonia United v Police FC, 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
(Sunday 9 February)
AC Port of Spain v La Horquetta Rangers, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium
W Connection v Point Fortin Civic, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Cunupia FC v Club Sando, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force - Bye
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Was this game played at the new Diego martin Regional complex. Looks nice!
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Yesterday's Results
(Friday 7 February)
Central FC 3 (Akim Armstrong 11, Ché Benny 61, 72-Pen) v San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Justin Araujo-Wilson 5), 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Morvant Caledonia United 2 (Tev Lawrence 62, 83) v Police FC 2 (Juma Clarence 10, Kareem Freitas 58), 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Upcoming Fixtures
(Sunday 9 February)
AC Port of Spain v La Horquetta Rangers, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium
W Connection v Point Fortin Civic, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Cunupia FC v Club Sando, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force - Bye
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 11 8 2 1 19 9 +10 26
2 La Horquetta Rangers FC 11 6 1 4 33 15 +18 19
3 Police FC 12 5 4 3 21 12 +9 19
4 Morvant Caledonia United 11 4 6 1 13 9 +4 18
5 Central FC 12 3 4 5 13 15 -2 13
6 San Juan Jabloteh FC 12 3 4 5 14 24 -10 13
7 W Connection FC 9 3 3 3 15 13 +2 12
8 Club Sando FC 11 3 3 5 15 15 0 12
9 Point Fortin Civic FC 9 3 3 3 12 15 -3 12
10 Athletic Club Port of Spain 11 3 3 5 12 25 -13 12
11 Cunupia FC 11 0 5 6 7 22 -15 5
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Only seven points between second and tenth place. .. interesting ....
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Only seven points between second and tenth place. .. interesting ....
Even more compressed between 5th and 10th and that makes Cunupia's showing even more subject to scrutiny.
There are also 7 points between them and AC POS. There are 7 points and there are 7! points.
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Woodley brace lifts Cunupia to first win.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Kevon ‘Showtime’ Woodley netted a second-half brace to earn Cunupia FC their first win after 12 matches, 2-1 over Tiger Tanks Club Sando, in the 2019/2020 T&T Pro League at the Ato Boldon Stadium Stadium, Couva on Sunday.
Woodley, a member of the National Beach Soccer team opened the scoring five minutes into the second half with a right-footed shot, but within three minutes Shaqkeem Joseph netted his sixth goal of the campaign to get Club Sando, level.
Club Sando then had a chance to a 2-1 lead from the penalty spot, but Michael Basdeo saw his week effort saved by Cunupia goalkeeper Keston Malchan.
And that miss would come back to haunt Club Sando as Woodley then scored his second of the match, the eventual match-winner in the 70th minute with an acrobatic right-footed volley into the top right-hand corner of the goal with his back to goal after taking a long free-kick down on his chest.
Despite the win, Cunupia remained bottom of the table with eight points from 12 matches, while at the top Defence Force who was on a bye this weekend leads the 11-team table with 26 points from 11 matches, six Terminix La Horquetta Rangers who were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw by AC Port-of-Spain at Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
National striker Tyrone Charles fired Rangers ahead as early as the second minute which his team held until John-Paul Rochford got AC Port-of-Spain on even terms on the stroke of half-time.
Against the run of play, Sedale Mc Lean then put AC Port-of-Spain ahead in the 73rd after which his team defended stubbornly before Aikim Andrews saved Rangers blemishes from a shock defeat with his 87th-minute strike.
In the opener at Couva, defending champions W Connection eked out a 2-1 triumph over Point Fortin Civic thanks to Jevaughn Humphrey’s 81st-minute strike.
Kurt Frederick had given the “Savonetta Boys” a 12th minute lead from the penalty spot before Daniel Diaz netted the equaliser in the 71st.
On Friday at Couva, Central FC got a double from national youth player Che Benny to whip San Juan Jabloteh 3-1 while Tev Lawrence’s double earned Morvant Caledonia United a 2-2 draw with third-placed Police FC who led 2-0 at one stage thanks to goals from out-of-favour national striker Juma Clarence, and Kareem “Scooby” Freitas.
Tonight (Tuesday, February 11), Morvant Caledonia United will have another chance to take sole possession of second spot on the table when they come up against San Juan Jabloteh at Couva from 6 pm, while tomorrow (Wednesday, February 12), two matches are on schedule with Central FC hosting W Connection at Couva from 6 pm, while Pt Fortin Civic entertains AC Port-of-Spain at Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin.
Full Results
(Friday 7 February)
Central FC 3 (Akim Armstrong 11, Ché Benny 61, 72-Pen) v San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Justin Araujo-Wilson 5), 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Morvant Caledonia United 2 (Tev Lawrence 62, 83) v Police FC 2 (Juma Clarence 10, Kareem Freitas 58), 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium - Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSTW9AJNvC0&feature=emb_title)
(Sunday 9 February)
AC Port of Spain 2 (John-Paul Rochford 45, Sedale McLean 73) v La Horquetta Rangers 2 (Tyrone Charles 2, Aikim Andrews 87), 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium;
W Connection 2 (Kurt Fredericks 12-Pen, Jevaughn Humphrey 81) v Point Fortin Civic 1 (Daniel Diaz 71), 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Cunupia FC 2 (Kevon Woodley 50, 70) v Club Sando 1 (Shaqkeem Joseph 53), 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium; - Match Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxWzU-oOexk&feature=emb_title)
Defence Force - Bye
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 11 8 2 1 19 9 +10 26
2 Terminix La Horquetta Rangers FC 12 6 2 4 35 17 +18 20
3 Police FC 12 5 4 3 21 12 +9 19
4 Morvant Caledonia United 11 4 6 1 13 9 +4 18
5 W Connection FC 10 4 3 3 17 14 +3 15
6 Central FC 12 3 4 5 13 15 -2 13
7 San Juan Jabloteh FC 12 3 4 5 14 24 -10 13
8 Athletic Club Port of Spain 12 3 4 5 14 27 -13 13
9 Tiger Tanks Club Sando FC 12 3 3 6 16 17 -1 12
10 Point Fortin Civic FC 10 3 3 4 13 17 -4 12
11 Cunupia FC 12 1 5 6 9 23 -14 8
Upcoming Fixtures
(Tuesday 11 February)
Morvant Caledonia United v San Juan Jabloteh, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
(Wednesday 12 February)
Central FC v W Connection, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v AC Port of Spain, 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval.
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WATCH: Police and Caledonia tie
https://www.youtube.com/v/VSTW9AJNvC0
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RANGERS VS POINT HIGHLIGHTS
https://www.youtube.com/v/qbPFswQBDnM
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Something that bothers me - can no one who publishes the tables in media use the tab function (this isn't against forumites, I have tried this in the past and know it's not worth the effort)? Their tables are always formatted stupidly where columns don't line up, and there's just no excuse in the modern era for not using tab, or putting it in excel... Wired is particularly bad at it, although I assume they've just taken a photo of something the TTFA produced?
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Jabloteh blitzs Morvant Caledonia 4-1.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Skakiyl Phillip scored two second-half penalty to cap off San Juan Jabloteh's 4-1 spanking of Morvant Caledonia United in the 2019/2020 T&T Pro League at the Ato Boldon Stadium Stadium, Couva on Tuesday night.
The shock victory lifted the Keith Jeffrey-coached Jabloteh three places up the table to fifth with 16 points from 13 matches, ten adrift of leaders Defence Force who have played 11 matches while Terminix La Horquetta Rangers are second with 20 points followed by Police FC and Morvant Caledonia with 19 and 18 respectively.
Going into the match on Tuesday night, the Densil 'Bleeder" Theobald-coached Morvant Caledonia United had their eyes set on going second on the table with full points.
However, inside of three minutes of the kick-off, the "Stallions" dreams were dealt a blow when Malik Mieres fired Jabloteh ahead.
Jaydon Taylor managed to pull Morvant Caledonia in the 32nd minute, but that joy was short-lived as Delon Jaggasar regained the edge for Jabloteh in the 38th minute for a 2-1 advantage at the half-time whistle.
Phillip then took charge for his team in the second-half capitalising on two errors of judgement from the Morvant Caledonia United defenders to convert two penalty-attempts, first in the 64th minute, and then in the 89th minute.
Last night, two matches were scheduled with Central FC hosting W Connection at Couva from 6 pm, while Pt Fortin Civic entertains AC Port-of-Spain at Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin.
On Friday, there are three matches scheduled with Defence Force facing AC Port-of-Spain at Couva from 6 pm followed by Club Sando and Morvant Caledonia United two hours later at the same venue, while Point Fortin Civic entertains Jabloteh at Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin from 7 pm.
Tuesday's Results
(Tuesday 11 February)
Morvant Caledonia United 1 (Jaydon Taylor 32) v San Juan Jabloteh 4 (Malik Mieres 3, Delon Jaggasar 38, Shakiyl Phillip 64-Pen, 89-Pen), 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium. - Match Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z81ZCT_jXzI&feature=emb_title)
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 11 8 2 1 19 9 +10 26
2 La Horquetta Rangers 12 6 2 4 35 17 +18 20
3 Police FC 12 5 4 3 21 12 +9 19
4 Morvant Caledonia United 12 4 6 2 14 13 +1 18
5 San Juan Jabloteh 13 4 4 5 18 25 -7 16
6 W Connection 10 4 3 3 17 14 +3 15
7 Central FC 12 3 4 5 13 15 -2 13
8 AC Port of Spain 12 3 4 5 14 27 -13 13
9 Club Sando 12 3 3 6 16 17 -1 12
10 Point Fortin Civic 10 3 3 4 13 17 -4 12
11 Cunupia FC 12 1 5 6 9 23 -14 8
Leading Scorers
8 - Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers)
6 - Keion Wilson (Police FC), Kerville Jeremiah (Point Fortin Civic), Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers), Shaqkeem Joseph (Club Sando)
5 - Tyrone Charles (La Horquetta Rangers), Kevon Woodley (Cunupia FC), Kareem Freitas (Police FC)
4 - Keron Cummings (La Horquetta Rangers), Rashad Hyacenth (AC PoS), Dimitrie Apai (W Connection), Christian Thomas, (Police FC), Reon Moore (Defence Force), John-Paul Rochford (AC PoS), Jevaughn Humphrey (W Connection), Tev Lawrence (Morvant Caledonia United), Che Benny (Central FC).
Yesterday's Fixtures
(Wednesday 12 February)
Central FC v W Connection, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v AC Port of Spain, 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval.
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WATCH: Morvant Caledonia United 1-4 San Juan Jabloteh
https://www.youtube.com/v/Z81ZCT_jXzI
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Good play by Jab. The camera man lost me with the first penalty.
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Stern: ‘Our players have not been paid’; W Connection clobber downcast Central in Couva Clásico.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Traditional Pro League powerhouses, W Connection FC, jumped two places to fourth spot after a 4-1 win over Central FC last night but there were more reasons to despair than cheer in a lopsided derby at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
The ‘Couva Clásico’ was the Pro League’s last hot ticket argument, capable of attracting close to 2,000 supporters and extensive media coverage up to five years ago—when Terry Fenwick and Stuart Charles-Fevrier led Central and Connection into battle.
Last night, Central could not even fill their substitutes bench and the outcome of the game, according to their own coach, was a foregone conclusion.
“It’s difficult for those players to get going because they haven’t been paid,” Central head coach and Trinidad and Tobago’s all-time leading international goal scorer Stern John told Wired868. “I knew we were going to lose even before the game started because some of the boys are disappointed they haven’t been paid.”
The result saw the ‘Couva Sharks’ slip to eighth place in the 11-team standings, as Point Fortin Civic leapfrogged them to seventh—thanks to a 3-2 win over AC Port of Spain at the Mahaica Oval.
Attacking midfielder John-Paul Rochford kept his personal hot streak going with a goal in his third successive game for AC. It was his fifth goal of the season, which is three shy of the Pro League’s top scorer, Jamal Creighton of Terminix La Horquetta Rangers.
Civic would not be denied, though, as teenager Julien Bristol scored a last minute winner for the Point Fortin-based club, who snapped a three game losing run in the process.
AC are level on points with Central but have an inferior goal difference.
There has been little to smile about in the Central dressing room of late, though.
The manic Pro League schedule sees clubs asked to play three games every eight days. Although the competition’s organisers have not said so explicitly, the reasoning behind the fixtures is believed to be an attempt to complete the league as quickly as possible—so as to minimise the number of monthly pay cheques due to players by club owners.
Most clubs are funded primarily by the Trinidad and Tobago government, courtesy of annual subventions by the Sport Company. The 2019/20 Pro League season started in December and ends in March.
Central, it seems, cannot afford to pay their own players for even that long. It is an especially ironic situation since the club’s managing director, Brent Sancho, is simultaneously the Pro League’s interim chairman as well as a former minister of sport.
Sancho was abroad when contacted by Wired868 and unavailable to comment at the time.
“When W Connection and Central played [each other] it used to be a massive game but I had a difficult time getting the players up for the game yesterday,” said John. “They just can’t get their head around the football because of their own situations. The day before [the game] we only had 10 players in the session.
“I am surprised so many players came out to play [last night].”
In the end, Central had 16 players on match day—two less than the 18 permitted. Among the high profile absentees was veteran attacker Akim Armstrong.
“The situation is disappointing because we have some of the younger boys like Jesse Williams and Ché Benny who want to play,” said John, “because they have a chance of getting on to the National Senior or Under-20 Team. But some of the senior guys have said that if they aren’t paid then they won’t be playing.”
On paper, Central still had a decent team last night. But it did not take long before the cracks showed.
By halftime, Connection were two goals clear after close ranged headers by defender Isaiah Garcia and flanker Dimitrie Apai. But the lead might easily have been by five items, as Apai and forward Jevaughn Humphrey missed one on one opportunities while right back Adan Noel had a free kick tipped on to the bar by Central custodian Abbion Devon Phillip.
“The tempo of the game was not what we are used to playing,” said John. “We were lacklustre. I had a go at them at halftime and told them: ‘you are not being paid but at least you can show some pride’.”
Central pulled a goal back in the 54th minute and it was a beauty, as attacking midfielder Sean Bonval cut in off the right wing and slapped low into the far corner with his left boot.
Bonval, a former Trinity College East player, has been one of the Pro League’s bright sparks this season. But, flickers from Benny and forward Noel Williams apart, it was a rare moment of quality from the Sharks yesterday.
Connection looked like scoring on every transition with Central’s defensive pairing of Williams [J] and Damani Richards repeatedly exposed by their teammates.
“In the second half, we had a go at Connection for about 10 or 15 minutes but then we lost shape again,” said John. “To be fair, [the loss] should have been by more than four [goals].”
Apai and Connection captain Neil Benjamin Jr were merciless on the flanks and Central full backs Myles Yorke and Jameel Neptune may have needed a dose of Andrews after the 90 minute affair.
‘Benjie’ got Connection’s third goal from the penalty spot in the 79th minute, after the Central goalkeeper upended Apai. And the Surinamese speedster, Apai, rounded off the score summary in stoppage time with a fierce finish in the roof of the net off a rapid counter attack.
While Benny did not have many opportunities to catch the eye, 15 year old Connection and National Youth Team midfielder Molik Jesse Khan looked every inch the showman.
Assured in possession, intelligent and full of swagger, it is hard not to see Khan earning a living off the sport in the not so distant future.
Central’s immediate future looks ragged though. The only club to ever win three straight Pro League titles in 2015, 2016 and 2017, John said he was unsure about his employer’s current ambitions.
“We are just trying to see out the season,” said John, a former England Premier League striker with Birmingham City and Sunderland. “Obviously as the coach you don’t want to finish last in the league. But with nothing to play for and players not being paid, it is hard to motivate your players.
“This is the first time I can say I am just waiting for the season to finish. I can’t lie to you.”
Full Results
(Wednesday 12 February)
Central FC 1 (Sean Bonval 54) v W Connection 4 (Isaiah Garcia 28, Dimitrie Apai 42, 90+2, Neil Benjamin Jr, 80-Pen), 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium; - Match Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9NAcASKi_o&feature=emb_title)
Point Fortin Civic 3 (Daniel Diaz 2, Justin Sadoo 61, Julien Briston 89) v AC Port of Spain 2 (John-Paul Rochford 22, Xae Pierre de Fou 77), 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval.
(Teams)
Central FC (4-2-3-1): 1.Abbion Devon Phillip (GK); 26.Myles Yorke, 27.Jesse Williams, 24.Damani Richards, 16.Jameel Neptune; 5.Omari Lezama (25.Romario Burke 76), 8.Kevon Goddard (captain); 10.Sean Bonval, 29.Ché Benny, 2.Kadeem Riley (23.Kesean St Rose 75); 11.Noel Williams.
Unused substitutes: 30.Jardel Poon-Lewis (GK), 3.Hakeem Baird, 12.Renaldo Alexander.
Coach: Stern John
W Connection FC (4-2-3-1): 18.Denzil Smith (GK); 11.Adan Noel, 3.Isaiah Garcia, 6.Alvinus Myers, 2.Kurt Frederick (27.Aaron Rodney 66); 8.Rhondel Gibson, 36.Molik Jesse Khan; 7.Neil Benjamin (captain) (99.Quinn Rodney 88), 32.Isaiah Hudson, 17.Dimitrie Apai; 13.Jevaughn Humphrey (9.Mickaeel Jem Gordon 59).
Unused substitutes: 1.Jason Belfon (GK), 24.Ronald Charles, 29.Jabari Lee, 35.Nathaniel James.
Coach: Earl Jean
Referee: Crystal Sobers
Wired868 Man of the Match: Dimitrie Apai (W Connection)
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 11 8 2 1 19 9 +10 26
2 La Horquetta Rangers 12 6 2 4 35 17 +18 20
3 Police FC 12 5 4 3 21 12 +9 19
4 W Connection 11 5 3 3 21 15 +6 18
5 Morvant Caledonia United 12 4 6 2 14 13 +1 18
6 San Juan Jabloteh 13 4 4 5 18 25 -7 16
7 Point Fortin Civic 11 4 3 4 16 19 -3 15
8 Central FC 13 3 4 6 14 19 -5 13
9 AC Port of Spain 13 3 4 6 16 30 -14 13
10 Club Sando 12 3 3 6 16 17 -1 12
11 Cunupia FC 12 1 5 6 9 23 -14 8
Upcoming Fixtures
(Friday 14 February)
Defence Force v AC Port of Spain, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Club Sando v Morvant Caledonia United, 8:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v San Juan Jabloteh, 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval.
(Saturday 15 February)
Central FC v Police FC, 6:00pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground;
La Horquetta Rangers v W Connection, 6:00pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground.
(Tuesday 18 February)
Reschedule Matches Round 1 Match #7 & Round 2 Matches #13 & 14
Defence Force v Cunupia FC, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Police FC v Club Sando, 8:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v W Connection, 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval.
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WATCH: A big 4-1 win for W Connections in the T&T Pro league after they wiped the floor with their Central neighbours Central FC to climb to fourth on the table.
https://www.youtube.com/v/_9NAcASKi_o
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Goal of the season from Kevon Woodley
https://www.youtube.com/v/FxWzU-oOexk?start=360
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Goal of the season from Kevon Woodley
He does that all day everyday in Beach football.
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Similar to a goal Hugo Sanchez scored on Ricardo LaVolpe. Hugo scored a bicycle and LaVolpe - fiercely proud and arrogant - was in de dressing room saying if Sanchez (also arrogant) had a 100 more opportunities he would not score against him again.
Shortly after that, both teams met again. Hugo received the same type of aerial ball and dented LaVolpe's net and pride.
Difference is that Showtime received the ball at the top of the box. Sanchez was positioned to the right side (facing the goal).
Any goal yuh score that invokes Hugo Sanchez is a boss goal.
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Army opens 9-point Pro League advantage.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Defence Force extended its lead at the top of T&T Pro League behind a comfortable 3-1 victory over AC Port-of-Spain when competition continued with a double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva on Friday night.
The army/coastguard combination unit took the lead in the contest in the 38th minute through Brent Sam for a 1-0 lead at th half-way make of the contest. In the second half the 'Tetron Boys' added two more to kill-off any hopes the opposition had of a fight back with strikes from Reon Moore, who netted nine minutes after the re-start and Adrian Welch scored in the 65th minute.
However, AC Port-of-Spain showed some fight and was rewarded with a Shem Clauziel goal three minutes before time.
It was Defence Force ninth victory from 12 matches for a total of 29 points which comprises two draws and one loss, while AC Port-of-Spain slipped two spots down the 11-team standing from eighth place to tenth.
In the featured match, Tiger Tanks Club Sando got two goals from Shaqueem Joseph, one against the run of play in the 13th minute and a penalty seconds before the half-time whistle sounded and Keron Cornwall sealed all three points against Morvant Caledonia United. With the win Club Sando moves up a spot to eighth place, while Morvant Caledonia United dropped from fourth to sixth despite the results was only the team's third loss from 13 meetings.
Full Results
(Friday 14 February)
Defence Force 3 (Brent Sam 38, Reon Moore 54, Adrian Welch 65) v AC Port of Spain 1 (Shem Clauziel 87), 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Club Sando 3 (Shaqueem Joseph 13, 45+1-Pen, Keron Cornwall 61) v Morvant Caledonia United 0, 8:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic 2 (Daniel Diaz 27, Justin Sadoo 32-Pen) v San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Brandon Semper 77), 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval.
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 12 9 2 1 22 10 +12 29
2 La Horquetta Rangers 12 6 2 4 35 17 +18 20
3 Police FC 12 5 4 3 21 12 +9 19
4 W Connection 11 5 3 3 21 15 +6 18
5 Point Fortin Civic 12 5 3 4 18 20 -2 18
6 Morvant Caledonia United 13 4 6 3 14 16 -2 18
7 San Juan Jabloteh 14 4 4 6 19 27 -8 16
8 Club Sando 13 4 3 6 19 17 +2 15
9 Central FC 13 3 4 6 14 19 -5 13
10 AC Port of Spain 14 3 4 7 17 33 -16 13
11 Cunupia FC 12 1 5 6 9 23 -14 8
Upcoming Fixtures
(Saturday 15 February)
Central FC v Police FC, 6:00pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground;
La Horquetta Rangers v W Connection, 6:00pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground.
(Tuesday 18 February)
Reschedule Matches Round 1 Match #7 & Round 2 Matches #13 & 14
Defence Force v Cunupia FC, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Police FC v Club Sando, 8:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v W Connection, 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval.
NB: Please be informed that following the three (3) matches scheduled to be played on February 18, 2020, the league will be taking a short break for the Carnival season. League matches will resume on Friday February 28, 2020.
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Stern: ‘Our players have not been paid’; W Connection clobber downcast Central in Couva Clásico.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Traditional Pro League powerhouses, W Connection FC, jumped two places to fourth spot after a 4-1 win over Central FC last night but there were more reasons to despair than cheer in a lopsided derby at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
The ‘Couva Clásico’ was the Pro League’s last hot ticket argument, capable of attracting close to 2,000 supporters and extensive media coverage up to five years ago—when Terry Fenwick and Stuart Charles-Fevrier led Central and Connection into battle.
Last night, Central could not even fill their substitutes bench and the outcome of the game, according to their own coach, was a foregone conclusion.
“It’s difficult for those players to get going because they haven’t been paid,” Central head coach and Trinidad and Tobago’s all-time leading international goal scorer Stern John told Wired868. “I knew we were going to lose even before the game started because some of the boys are disappointed they haven’t been paid.”
The result saw the ‘Couva Sharks’ slip to eighth place in the 11-team standings, as Point Fortin Civic leapfrogged them to seventh—thanks to a 3-2 win over AC Port of Spain at the Mahaica Oval.
Attacking midfielder John-Paul Rochford kept his personal hot streak going with a goal in his third successive game for AC. It was his fifth goal of the season, which is three shy of the Pro League’s top scorer, Jamal Creighton of Terminix La Horquetta Rangers.
Civic would not be denied, though, as teenager Julien Bristol scored a last minute winner for the Point Fortin-based club, who snapped a three game losing run in the process.
AC are level on points with Central but have an inferior goal difference.
There has been little to smile about in the Central dressing room of late, though.
The manic Pro League schedule sees clubs asked to play three games every eight days. Although the competition’s organisers have not said so explicitly, the reasoning behind the fixtures is believed to be an attempt to complete the league as quickly as possible—so as to minimise the number of monthly pay cheques due to players by club owners.
Most clubs are funded primarily by the Trinidad and Tobago government, courtesy of annual subventions by the Sport Company. The 2019/20 Pro League season started in December and ends in March.
Central, it seems, cannot afford to pay their own players for even that long. It is an especially ironic situation since the club’s managing director, Brent Sancho, is simultaneously the Pro League’s interim chairman as well as a former minister of sport.
Sancho was abroad when contacted by Wired868 and unavailable to comment at the time.
“When W Connection and Central played [each other] it used to be a massive game but I had a difficult time getting the players up for the game yesterday,” said John. “They just can’t get their head around the football because of their own situations. The day before [the game] we only had 10 players in the session.
“I am surprised so many players came out to play [last night].”
In the end, Central had 16 players on match day—two less than the 18 permitted. Among the high profile absentees was veteran attacker Akim Armstrong.
“The situation is disappointing because we have some of the younger boys like Jesse Williams and Ché Benny who want to play,” said John, “because they have a chance of getting on to the National Senior or Under-20 Team. But some of the senior guys have said that if they aren’t paid then they won’t be playing.”
On paper, Central still had a decent team last night. But it did not take long before the cracks showed.
By halftime, Connection were two goals clear after close ranged headers by defender Isaiah Garcia and flanker Dimitrie Apai. But the lead might easily have been by five items, as Apai and forward Jevaughn Humphrey missed one on one opportunities while right back Adan Noel had a free kick tipped on to the bar by Central custodian Abbion Devon Phillip.
“The tempo of the game was not what we are used to playing,” said John. “We were lacklustre. I had a go at them at halftime and told them: ‘you are not being paid but at least you can show some pride’.”
Central pulled a goal back in the 54th minute and it was a beauty, as attacking midfielder Sean Bonval cut in off the right wing and slapped low into the far corner with his left boot.
Bonval, a former Trinity College East player, has been one of the Pro League’s bright sparks this season. But, flickers from Benny and forward Noel Williams apart, it was a rare moment of quality from the Sharks yesterday.
Connection looked like scoring on every transition with Central’s defensive pairing of Williams [J] and Damani Richards repeatedly exposed by their teammates.
“In the second half, we had a go at Connection for about 10 or 15 minutes but then we lost shape again,” said John. “To be fair, [the loss] should have been by more than four [goals].”
Apai and Connection captain Neil Benjamin Jr were merciless on the flanks and Central full backs Myles Yorke and Jameel Neptune may have needed a dose of Andrews after the 90 minute affair.
‘Benjie’ got Connection’s third goal from the penalty spot in the 79th minute, after the Central goalkeeper upended Apai. And the Surinamese speedster, Apai, rounded off the score summary in stoppage time with a fierce finish in the roof of the net off a rapid counter attack.
While Benny did not have many opportunities to catch the eye, 15 year old Connection and National Youth Team midfielder Molik Jesse Khan looked every inch the showman.
Assured in possession, intelligent and full of swagger, it is hard not to see Khan earning a living off the sport in the not so distant future.
Central’s immediate future looks ragged though. The only club to ever win three straight Pro League titles in 2015, 2016 and 2017, John said he was unsure about his employer’s current ambitions.
“We are just trying to see out the season,” said John, a former England Premier League striker with Birmingham City and Sunderland. “Obviously as the coach you don’t want to finish last in the league. But with nothing to play for and players not being paid, it is hard to motivate your players.
“This is the first time I can say I am just waiting for the season to finish. I can’t lie to you.”
Full Results
(Wednesday 12 February)
Central FC 1 (Sean Bonval 54) v W Connection 4 (Isaiah Garcia 28, Dimitrie Apai 42, 90+2, Neil Benjamin Jr, 80-Pen), 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium; - Match Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9NAcASKi_o&feature=emb_title)
Point Fortin Civic 3 (Daniel Diaz 2, Justin Sadoo 61, Julien Briston 89) v AC Port of Spain 2 (John-Paul Rochford 22, Xae Pierre de Fou 77), 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval.
(Teams)
Central FC (4-2-3-1): 1.Abbion Devon Phillip (GK); 26.Myles Yorke, 27.Jesse Williams, 24.Damani Richards, 16.Jameel Neptune; 5.Omari Lezama (25.Romario Burke 76), 8.Kevon Goddard (captain); 10.Sean Bonval, 29.Ché Benny, 2.Kadeem Riley (23.Kesean St Rose 75); 11.Noel Williams.
Unused substitutes: 30.Jardel Poon-Lewis (GK), 3.Hakeem Baird, 12.Renaldo Alexander.
Coach: Stern John
W Connection FC (4-2-3-1): 18.Denzil Smith (GK); 11.Adan Noel, 3.Isaiah Garcia, 6.Alvinus Myers, 2.Kurt Frederick (27.Aaron Rodney 66); 8.Rhondel Gibson, 36.Molik Jesse Khan; 7.Neil Benjamin (captain) (99.Quinn Rodney 88), 32.Isaiah Hudson, 17.Dimitrie Apai; 13.Jevaughn Humphrey (9.Mickaeel Jem Gordon 59).
Unused substitutes: 1.Jason Belfon (GK), 24.Ronald Charles, 29.Jabari Lee, 35.Nathaniel James.
Coach: Earl Jean
Referee: Crystal Sobers
Wired868 Man of the Match: Dimitrie Apai (W Connection)
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 11 8 2 1 19 9 +10 26
2 La Horquetta Rangers 12 6 2 4 35 17 +18 20
3 Police FC 12 5 4 3 21 12 +9 19
4 W Connection 11 5 3 3 21 15 +6 18
5 Morvant Caledonia United 12 4 6 2 14 13 +1 18
6 San Juan Jabloteh 13 4 4 5 18 25 -7 16
7 Point Fortin Civic 11 4 3 4 16 19 -3 15
8 Central FC 13 3 4 6 14 19 -5 13
9 AC Port of Spain 13 3 4 6 16 30 -14 13
10 Club Sando 12 3 3 6 16 17 -1 12
11 Cunupia FC 12 1 5 6 9 23 -14 8
Upcoming Fixtures
(Friday 14 February)
Defence Force v AC Port of Spain, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Club Sando v Morvant Caledonia United, 8:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v San Juan Jabloteh, 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval.
(Saturday 15 February)
Central FC v Police FC, 6:00pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground;
La Horquetta Rangers v W Connection, 6:00pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground.
(Tuesday 18 February)
Reschedule Matches Round 1 Match #7 & Round 2 Matches #13 & 14
Defence Force v Cunupia FC, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Police FC v Club Sando, 8:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v W Connection, 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval.
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Rangers spanks W Connection.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Four different players were on target as Terminix La Horquetta Rangers spanked defending champions W Connection 4-1 in the feature match of a 2019/2020 T&T Pro League double-header at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta, on Saturday night.
With the win, La Horquetta Rangers carried their points tally to 23 from 13 matches in the second spot on the 11-club table, six adrift of leaders Defence Force, who have a game in hand and one more than third place Police FC, who trounced Central FC 5-1 in the opening match on Saturday.
Former national Under-20 player Jamal Creighton fired Rangers ahead as early as the eighth minute with his league-best ninth goal of the season, while another former national youth player, Kishun Seecharan, made it 2-0 two minutes later.
W Connection, coming off a 4-1 win over Central FC last Wednesday, managed to cut the lead in half in the 18th minute via national Under-20 player Molik Khan.
But nine minutes before the half-time whistle, national midfielder Ross Russell Jr reclaimed a two-goal cushion for Rangers and in the 38th minute out-of-favour national midfielder Keron “Ball Pest” Cummings extended the advantage to 4-1 for the hosts to go in well poised at the break.
The home fans were expecting another barrage of goals in the second period but Rangers failed to add to their tally as W Connection gave a much improved second-half defensive display.
Earlier on, national strikers Juma Clarence and Jabari Mitchell netted two goals each to help Police register a come-from-behind 5-1 over Central FC 5-1.
Romario Burke had given Central FC a 16th minute lead only for Clarence (18th & 20th), Mitchell (55th & 71st) and Christon Thomas (47th) to hit back for the lawmen.
RELATED NEWS
Jean protests ‘Wales of a decision’, Connection crumble to 4-1 Rangers loss after controversial call.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers maintained their menacing offensive record at Phase 2, La Horquetta yesterday but the host team did benefit from a helping hand, as they trounced W Connection FC 4-1 in Pro League action.
In seven games at the Phase 2 Recreation Ground, Rangers have five emphatic wins—7-2 (AC Port of Spain), 6-0 (San Juan Jabloteh), 5-1 (Point Fortin Civic), 8-1 (Cunupia FC) and 4-1 (Connection) respectively.
Yet, Connection insisted, the turning point came before a goal was scored, as referee Keilon Bacchus pointed to the penalty spot and issued a red card to their defender Adan Noel for a supposed handled ball that none of the players from either team saw.
“I don’t usually comment on referees but this was really, really disappointing,” said Connection head coach Earl Jean. “Now Adan cannot play the next game because it is a straight red card. And for what? We are going to appeal on Monday but we have a game on Tuesday [against Point Fortin Civic] and how long will the appeal take [to reach a decision]?
“That decision destroyed our players! One game can have a big effect because it is a short league. We could have gone [third] if we won the game. Who knows?”
Instead, Connection, the defending champions, stay fourth on 18 points—11 points short of leaders, Defence Force. Rangers are second with 23 points.
Police FC are third with 22 points and might have gone second if Rangers had lost. Yesterday, the ‘Lawmen’ were first out on to the La Horquetta surface and put Central FC to the sword 5-1 in a one-side fixture.
Central coach Stern John spoke last week about the club’s failure to pay players and staff and the absence of several senior players as a result. The ‘Couva Sharks’, whose managing director is Pro League interim chairman Brent Sancho, have now conceded nine goals in their last two games while scoring twice.
There can be no doubting the commitment of 23-year-old flanker Sean Bonval though. Blessed with quick feet, tenacious spirit and a precise delivery, the former Trinity College East student gave the best individual performance of yesterday’s clash—even as the Sharks were being torn asunder.
Bonval created the game’s opening item with a teasing free kick that Police and Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team Adrian Foncette failed to gather, allowing midfielder Romario Burke to poke Central ahead in the 16th minute.
Bonval almost created a second with a raking cross that forward Noel Williams headed against the upright, while he tormented both Police full backs in turns.
Yet, it was not nearly enough to compensate for Central’s ragged collectively showing, particularly in defensive transition.
Police flanker Joel Lewis created two goals with low, precise crosses that were tucked away by Juma Clarence and Kareem Freitas respectively. And defender Elijah Belgrave scored with a thumping header off a corner kick while left back Christon Thomas and midfielder Jabari Mitchell both cashed in with speculative attempts that embarrassed veteran Central custodian Cleon John.
The Pro League goes on break this week for Carnival. But Central, who are ninth in the 11-team standings, are well ahead of them. The Sharks look more like an ‘old mas’ band than a team with three League titles these days.
The feature match of the double header promised to be a more evenly contested clash. Connection spanked Rangers 3-1 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva last month but could not have expected such a straightforward affair on the tiny La Horquetta pitch that has seen defences repeatedly humiliated since its opening last August.
Noel is the latest in a line of defenders to have a nightmarish introduction to Phase 2, although it was hard not to sympathise with him.
The talented right back was stationed on the goal line when Rangers captain Jamal Creighton thumped a header in his direction, off a right side corner kick.
Noel took the effort on his chest and prepared to punt the ball forward, before he noticed that the Rangers players were all hurriedly backing away from him.
So he took another touch. And then a third, before passing the ball into a midfield teammate.
It was only then, six seconds after he chested down Creighton’s header, that referee Keilon Bacchus blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. Bacchus followed up on that decision by brandishing a red card and ordering Noel to the dressing room.
The game was only six minutes old and goalless at the time.
“When a referee is in position and the linesman is further away from the situation, then how can he overrule the referee?” asked Jean. “The referee was in a better position to see and he continued play—and the players never appealed; they continued playing. But [assistant referee Caleb Wales] is flagging away. Then the referee calls a penalty and goes over to the linesman and comes back and shows a straight red card.
“Straight red?! That is baffling. Even the Rangers players said the referee threw off the game.”
Connection goalkeeper Denzil Smith got a hand to Creighton’s penalty kick but could not keep it out.
Rangers are not the bashful sort when an opponent loses their bearings. They doubled their lead within seconds, as midfielder Keron ‘Ball Pest’ Cummings picked off an errant Smith clearance and Samuel Delice crossed for Kishun Seecharan to head home at the far post—where Noel would have been but for the controversial sending off.
Fifteen-year-old Connection midfielder Molik Jesse Khan got his team on Bacchus’ score card in the 18th minute, as he dribbled past Rangers right back Anselm ‘Worm’ Jackson and surprised goalkeeper Jabari St Hillaire at his near post.
Remarkably, Khan is the third 15-year-old to score in the Pro League this season, after his club teammate Nathaniel ‘Natty’ James and San Juan Jabloteh attacker Jaheim Faustin.
But it is a stat that owes much to the mass exodus of talent to destinations as varied as India, El Salvador, Malta, the Philippines and Barbados, due to the financial shortcomings of the local top flight competition.
Rangers did not stop there, as left back Ross Russell Jr got his first item of the season off a corner kick with a header that Smith mishandled. And Cummings got the goal of the night with a fine volley, after skilful wide play by teammate Tyrone Charles.
There might have been a fifth too, as Seecharan struck the inside of the Connection upright after a clever Cummings backheel in a flowing Rangers move.
The second half had barely begun when Jean threw in the towel, as Connection went into damage limitation mode and the game petered out.
“With some of the decisions going against us, I said let us hold back instead of getting embarrassed and focus on our game against Civic on Tuesday,” said Jean. “I saw no way we were getting anything from the referees on the day… It was really disheartening and I am still bitter about it.
“[…] The players were furious when they came into the dressing room at halftime and I had to ask them to calm down… I think we shut off a bit after the penalty and Rangers took full advantage.
“But I give the guys kudos in the second half because they battled well and played tactically. They are a young team so it is a learning process.”
Jean credited Rangers too for their aggressive approach, as they pressed high up the field and forced Connection into mistakes. However, his mood was not helped by assistant referee Caleb Wales’ insistence that the Noel decision was correct.
“The linesman said he saw it and his eyes are not lying to him,” said Jean. “How can you be wrong and strong and say your eyes are right after that? It is just ridiculous man; that really broke me.
“[…] Games should be decided by players—not them. We don’t want referees and linesmen coming out thinking it is about them.”
Connection vowed to fight until the last, as they try to claw their way back into contention. Truth is, there was not enough of that fighting spirit exhibited yesterday.
Twice, Defence Force were reduced to 10 players in La Horquetta. The Army/Coast Guard combination managed a draw during the 2019 Ascension Invitational Tournament and, earlier this month, they came away with a 2-0 win despite having star defender Curtis ‘Boyo’ Gonzales ejected in the 19th minute.
Incidentally, Rangers got a penalty in each game against Defence Force too. Goalkeeper Aaron ‘Demon’ Enill saved both of them.
Connection did not display such mettle. Instead, Rangers exhibited more control of the ball than usual and never looked in trouble once ahead.
As a result, Rangers remain in the title race. But the involvement of Bacchus and Wales will rankle for some time yet.
(Teams - by Wired868)
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers (4-4-2): 20.Jabari St Hillaire (GK); 99.Anselm Jackson, 12.Caleb Sturge, 26.Jesus Perez, 17.Ross Russell Jr; 7.Aikim Andrews, 8.Jamal Creighton (captain), 15.Keron Cummings, 9.Kishun Seecharan; 77.Samuel Delice (5.Leslie Russell 87), 10.Tyrone Charles (28.Johnny Noriega Brito 83).
Unused substitutes: 29.Emmanuel John (GK), 27.Isaiah Lee, 31.Junior Asson, 32.Yohannes Richardson, 45.Kadeem Corbin.
Coach: Dave Quamina
W Connection FC (4-3-3): 18.Denzil Smith (GK); 11.Adan Noel, 3.Isaiah Garcia, 8.Rhondel Gibson, 6.Alvinus Myers; 27.Aaron Rodney, 19.Briel Thomas, 36.Molik Khan; 7.Neil Benjamin Jr (29.Jabari Lee 79), 35.Nathaniel James (32.Isaiah Hudson 66), 17.Dimitrie Apai (9.Mickaeel Jem Gordon 80).
Unused substitutes: 1.Jason Belfon (GK), 14.Akinola Gregory, 24.Ronald Charles, 99.Quinn Rodney.
Coach: Earl Jean
Referee: Keilon Bacchus
Wired868 Man of the Match: Keron Cummings (LH Rangers)
Full Results
(Saturday 15 February)
Central FC 1 (Romario Burke 16) v Police FC 5 (Juma Clarence 18, 20, Christon Thomas 47, Jabari Mitchell 55, 71), 6:00pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground;
La Horquetta Rangers 4 (Jamal Creighton 8-Pen, Kishun Seecharan 10, Ross Russell Jr, 36, Keron Cummings 38) v W Connection 1 (Molik Khan 18), 6:00pm, La Horquetta Recreation Ground. - Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVvmMv0H91o&feature=emb_title)
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 12 9 2 1 22 10 12 29
2 La Horquetta Rangers 13 7 2 4 39 18 21 23
3 Police FC 13 6 4 3 26 13 13 22
4 W Connection 12 5 3 4 22 19 3 18
5 Point Fortin Civic 12 5 3 4 18 20 -2 18
6 Morvant Caledonia United 13 4 6 3 14 16 -2 18
7 San Juan Jabloteh 14 4 4 6 19 27 -8 16
8 Club Sando 13 4 3 6 19 17 2 15
9 Central FC 14 3 4 7 15 24 -9 13
10 AC Port of Spain 14 3 4 7 17 33 -16 13
11 Cunupia FC 12 1 5 6 9 23 -14 8
Upcoming Fixtures
(Tuesday 18 February)
Reschedule Matches Round 1 Match #7 & Round 2 Matches #13 & 14
Defence Force v Cunupia FC, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Police FC v Club Sando, 8:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic v W Connection, 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval.
Noel suspension rescinded, refs allegedly admit error in Connection red card
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
W Connection right back Adan Noel will be allowed to represent his club in Pro League action against Point Fortin Civic tomorrow night after the league ruled that he was unjustly sanctioned during Saturday’s affair against Terminix La Horquetta Rangers in Phase 2, La Horquetta.
Noel was shown a straight red card in the sixth minute of play after referee Keilon Bacchus—on the advice of his assistant, Caleb Wales—incorrectly ruled that he used his arm to stop a goal-bound header by Rangers captain Jamal Creighton. A video replay confirmed that Noel used his chest.
Creighton scored the resulting penalty kick and Rangers went on to whip the 10-man Connection outfit 4-1.
Wired868 understands Bacchus and Wales admitted their error after the match and it meant that Connection’s subsequent appeal was uncontested.
There was a suggestion too that Connection could go a step further and push for a replay. According to one informed source, who chose to remain anonymous: ‘a referee’s decision is final always correct except when he errs on a point of law’.
There is precedent. On 3 September 2005, Uzbekistan edged Bahrain 1-0 at home but protested that the match referee robbed them a chance of a second item by misapplying the law.
Uzbekistan scored a second goal during the affair, only for the referee to disallow it for encroachment. Uzbekistan took their case to Fifa and asked that they forfeit the match and award them a 3-0 win.
Fifa rejected the forfeiture request and awarded the replay instead, which, ironically, Bahrain drew 1-1 and then went on to draw goalless at home to advance to a Fifa World Cup play-off against Trinidad and Tobago. The Soca Warriors, of course, eliminated Bahrain at that stage.
W Connection coach Earl Jean said he will not demand a replay, though.
“We did lodge the appeal and they rescinded the red card,” Jean told Wired868. “For me that was the end of it. I am not looking for a replay. I thought [the red card] was unjust and I was disappointed with what happened to my player because I know he didn’t do it.
“I am satisfied that they dealt with that.”
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https://www.youtube.com/v/A3QMS5G2IUc
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Defence Force stretch lead atop Pro League.
By Joel Bailey (Newday).
DEFENCE FORCE stretched their lead atop the standings in the TT Pro League too nine points, over Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, on Tuesday.
The Army-Coast Guard combination notched a hard-fought 2-1 win over Cunupia FC, at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. Winger Darius Ollivierra got a double for the league leaders, in the 61st and 83rd minutes, as Defence Force earned their tenth win of the season. Substitute forward Mikheil Peters pulled one back for the bottom-placed Cunupia, in second-half stoppage time. After 13 games, Defence Force have a tally of 32 points while Cunupia have amassed only eight points.
Cunupia have shown steady improvement, in terms of their discipline and tactical formation, during their debut season in the top-flight of local club football. But they show too much of a reliance on their experienced captain and striker Kevon ‘Showtime’ Woodley. Defence Force were comfortable winners on the day, even though it took a while for them to penetrate the well-organised Cunupia backline.
Ollivierra had the first chance for Defence Force, after 18 minutes, with a low left-footed shot which went wide of Keston Malchan’s goal. Reon Moore and forward Brent Sam exchanged passes, but Moore sent his right-footed effort overbar, while Adrian Welch and Moore had a give-and-go before Welch skied his right-footer.Sam could not keep down his right-footed drive, after good work by Moore, and Moore took matters into his own hands, in the 40th minute, with a shot which was denied by Malchan. Eight minutes into the second half, Ollivierra made a move from the right and drilled his shot against the crossbar.
And the constant pressure by Defence Force proved effective shortly afterwards when Ollivierra raced on to a squared pass from Moore to send his shot via Malchan’s body and into the back of the net. Woodley and Rudy James had opportunities to equalise, but they were unable to do so.Those errors were costly as Ollivierra took aim from 25 metres, and fired past Malchan, who was badly out of position.
Peters got a consolation item, when he headed home a good cross from the left by fellow reserve Donan Jervier.
The other scheduled clash at Couva on Tuesday, between Police FC and Tiger Tanks Club Sando, has been pushed back to Thursday, from 6 pm, at Couva.
In the other match W Connection, known as the 'Savonetta Boys' needed just a single goal from Briel Thomas in the 31st minute for maximum points. Despite the win, however, they remained in the fourth position on 21 points.
Full Results
(Tuesday 18 February)
Reschedule Matches Round 1 Match #7 & Round 2 Match #13
Defence Force 2 (Darius Ollivierra 63, 84) v Cunupia FC 1 (Mikheil Peters 90+2), 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Point Fortin Civic 0 v W Connection 1 (Briel Thomas 31), 7:00pm, Mahaica Oval. - Match Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfqc3GXY-tQ&feature=youtu.be)
Upcoming Fixtures
(Thursday 20 February)
Reschedule Match for Round 2 Match #14
Police FC v Club Sando, 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 13 10 2 1 24 11 +13 32
2 La Horquetta Rangers 13 7 2 4 39 18 +21 23
3 Police FC 13 6 4 3 26 13 +13 22
4 W Connection 13 6 3 4 23 19 +4 21
5 Morvant Caledonia United 13 4 6 3 14 16 -2 18
6 Point Fortin Civic 13 5 3 5 18 21 -3 18
7 San Juan Jabloteh 14 4 4 6 19 27 -8 16
8 Club Sando 13 4 3 6 19 17 +2 15
9 Central FC 14 3 4 7 15 24 -9 13
10 AC Port of Spain 14 3 4 7 17 33 -16 13
11 Cunupia FC 13 1 5 7 10 25 -15 8
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Police FC comes from behind to arrest Club Sando in a 2-2 draw.
By Inshan Mohammed.
Club Sando surrendered a two goal lead which allowed third placed team Police FC to rally back and draw the match 2-2 at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Thursday.
Kemuel Rivers opened the scoring for Sando in the 29th minute with a neat left side tuck-in after being freed to roam in Police penalty box. Rivers were first to arrived by the near post and would make no mistake as he slipped his shot pass the Police custodian.
Then three minutes later Keron Cornwall 32nd minute breakaway goal doubled the lead for the Southerns that gave them a comfortable 2-goal cushion.
However, Police wasn't done yet and responded on the brink of halftime when Joshua Leach netted a 45 minute goal that kept the men in blue alive. Leach, was allowed to run pass two of Sando's central defenders to slot home a right side cross.
Club Sando, who is coached by current National Under 20 assistant coach Angus Eve probably thought they had the game in the bag as Police just couldn't penetrate Sando's defence and full time was quickly approaching.
Then with 10 minutes of regulation time remaining the persistent Law-men hard work finally paid off.
Former T&T youth player Juma Clarence did the justice for Police when he met a left-side cross and headed the ball down and into the goal to seal the 2-2 tie as both teams shared the points each in the end.
Full Results
(Thursday 20 February)
Reschedule Matches Round 2 Match #14
Police FC 2 (Joshua Leach 45, Juma Clarence 80) v Club Sando 2 (Kemuel Rivers 29, Keron Cornwall 32), 6:00pm, Ato Boldon Stadium. - Match Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjR1YJldqx8&feature=emb_title)
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 13 10 2 1 24 11 +13 32
2 La Horquetta Rangers 13 7 2 4 39 18 +21 23
3 Police FC 14 6 5 3 28 15 +13 23
4 W Connection 13 6 3 4 23 19 +4 21
5 Morvant Caledonia United 13 4 6 3 14 16 -2 18
6 Point Fortin Civic 13 5 3 5 18 21 -3 18
7 Club Sando 14 4 4 6 21 19 +2 16
8 San Juan Jabloteh 14 4 4 6 19 27 -8 16
9 Central FC 14 3 4 7 15 24 -9 13
10 AC Port of Spain 14 3 4 7 17 33 -16 13
11 Cunupia FC 13 1 5 7 10 25 -15 8
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WATCH: Police FC and Club Sando in 2-2 draw
https://www.youtube.com/v/vjR1YJldqx8
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11 T&T players in de Pro League who look good so far.
Aaron Enill (Defence Force) - GK
Christian Thomas (Police FC), Ross Russell Jr, (Defence Force), Adan Noel (W Connection), Brandon Semper (San Juan Jabloteh) - DF
Keron Cummings (La Horquetta Rangers), Molik Khan (W Connection), John-Paul Rochford (AC Port of Spain), Sean Boval (Central FC) - MID
Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers), Kevon Woodley (Cunupia FC) - FWD
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11 T&T players in de Pro League who look good so far.
Aaron Enill (Defence Force) - GK
Christian Thomas (Police FC), Ross Russell Jr, (Defence Force), Adan Noel (W Connection), Brandon Semper (San Juan Jabloteh) - DF
Keron Cummings (La Horquetta Rangers), Molik Khan (W Connection), John-Paul Rochford (AC Port of Spain), Sean Boval (Central FC) - MID
Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers), Kevon Woodley (Cunupia FC) - FWD
How good Molik Khan looking?
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Upcoming Fixtures - Round Two, Match Day Five
Friday February 28
San Juan Jabloteh v La Horquetta Rangers, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
W Connection v Defence Force, 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Point Fortin Civic v Police FC, 7pm, Mahaica Oval
Sunday March 1st
Morvant Caledonia United v Cunupia FC, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Club Sando v Central FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
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Rangers cuts into Army lead.
T&T Guardian Reports.
While Defence Force were left idle on Match Day Five, Terminix La Horquatta Rangers used the opportunity to cut into the title challengers’ lead with a 2-0 victory over San Juan Jabloteh.
Rangers’ effort came in the the first match of a double-header in the T&T Pro League as competition resumed after the Carnival break at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva, on Friday night.
After a goalless first half, Rangers Tyrone Charles scored in the 59th and 66th minutes to guide his team to victory and 26 points, six behind the Army/Coast Guard combination unit.
In the feature match-up of the night, Morvant Caledonia United maintained their fifth-place position on the 11-team standings after a 3-1 triumph over Cunupia FC thanks to goals from Tev Lawrence, Pernell Schultz and Sheldon Holder in the 12th, 20th and 68th minutes of the contest.
Cunupia FC’s only item came from the inform Kevon “Showtime” Woodley, who reduced his team’s halftime deficit by one with his strike in the 32nd minute.
However, the match of the round was the contest between hosts Point Fortin and Police at Mahaica Oval, in which the visitors experienced their fourth loss of the season when Tyrel Emmanuel secured all three points in the 53rd minute to the delight of cheering home fans. Despite the unfavourable result for Police, both teams maintained their third and sixth positions on the standings, respectively.
Full Results
Friday February 28
Morvant Caledonia United 3 (Tev Lawrence 12, Pernell Schultz 20, Sheldon Holder 68) v Cunupia FC 1 (Kevon Woodley 32), 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
San Juan Jabloteh 0 v La Horquetta Rangers 2 (Tyrone Charles 59, 66), 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Point Fortin Civic 1 (Tyrel Emmanuel 53) v Police FC 0, 7pm, Mahaica Oval
Upcoming Fixtures - Round Two, Match Day Five
Sunday March 1st
W Connection v Defence Force, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Club Sando v Central FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 13 10 2 1 24 11 +13 32
2 La Horquetta Rangers 14 8 2 4 41 18 +23 26
3 Police FC 15 6 5 4 28 16 +12 23
4 W Connection 13 6 3 4 23 19 +4 21
5 Morvant Caledonia United 14 5 6 3 17 17 0 21
6 Point Fortin Civic 14 6 3 5 19 21 -2 21
7 Club Sando 14 4 4 6 21 19 +2 16
8 San Juan Jabloteh 15 4 4 7 19 29 -10 16
9 Central FC 14 3 4 7 15 24 -9 13
10 AC Port of Spain 14 3 4 7 17 33 -16 13
11 Cunupia FC 14 1 5 8 11 28 -17 8
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Welch restores Army 9 points lead.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Adrian Welch got the lone goal as three-time T&T Pro League champions Defence Force remained on course for a first league crown since 2012-2013 after edging W Connection 1-0 in the opening match of a double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Sunday.
Following a goalless first-half, Welch netted the game's lone item in the 59th to secure all three points for the Army/Coast-Guard combination to move to 35 points from 14 matches, nine clear of Terminix La Horquetta Rangers with both teams having six matches each left to play.
Third-placed Police FC has 23 points from 15 matches, two more than the trio of six-time league champions W Connection, Morvant Caledonia United and Pt Fortin Civic, who have all played 14 matches as well.
In the night's second match-up, Tiger Tanks Club Sando got a goal each from Shaqkeem Joseph and former US-based national striker, Trevin Caesar to blank three-time league winners Central FC 2-0.
Joseph got the opening item in the 32nd minute and 20 minutes from full-time Caesar, who last played in Albania with SC Gjilani fired in the insurance item.
Tonight, (Tuesday, March 3), La Horquetta Rangers will have a chance to trim Defence Force back to six points when they entertain third-placed Police FC from 7 pm at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta while Cunupia FC and AC Port-of-Spain, the two bottom-placed clubs meet at Couva from 7 pm as well.
And tomorrow (Wednesday, March 4), Defence Force plays Jabloteh at Couva from 6 pm followed by Morvant Caledonia and Central FC at the same venue two hours later, while Pt Fortin Civic hosts Club Sando at Mahaica Oval.
Full Results
Sunday March 1st
W Connection 0 v Defence Force 1 (Arian Welch 59), 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Club Sando 2 (Shaqkeem Joseph 32, Trevin Caesar 70) v Central FC 0, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 14 11 2 1 25 11 +14 35
2 La Horquetta Rangers 14 8 2 4 41 18 +23 26
3 Police FC 15 6 5 4 28 16 +12 23
4 W Connection 14 6 3 5 23 20 +3 21
5 Morvant Caledonia United 14 5 6 3 17 17 0 21
6 Point Fortin Civic 14 6 3 5 19 21 -2 21
7 Club Sando 15 5 4 6 23 19 +4 19
8 San Juan Jabloteh 15 4 4 7 19 29 -10 16
9 Central FC 15 3 4 9 15 26 -11 13
10 AC Port of Spain 14 3 4 7 17 33 -16 13
11 Cunupia FC 14 1 5 8 11 28 -17 8
Upcoming Matches.
Today's Matches
Cunupia FC vs AC Port-of-Spain, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 7 pm
La Horquetta Rangers vs Police FC, La Horquetta Rec. Grd, 7 pm
Tomorrow
San Juan Jabloteh vs Defence Force, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 6 pm
Morvant Caledonia United vs Central FC, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 8 pm
Point Fortin Civic vs Club Sando, Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin 7 pm
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Seecharan double keeps Rangers lurking.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Former national Under-23 midfielder Kishun Seecharan scored a first-half double to lead Terminix La Horquetta Rangers past Police FC 2-0 in a key 2019/2020 T&T Pro League match at La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta on Tuesday night.
With the win, Rangers improved to 29 points from 15 matches on the 11-team table and five matches left to play to complete their campaign while three-time T&T Pro League champions Defence Force and 18-time national league winners Defence Force leads with 32 points from 14 matches and well on course for a first league crown since 2012-2013 while Police FC stayed third with 23 points from 16 matches.
The 23-year-old Seecharan who had stints previously at Defence Force, Central FC and North East Stars opened the scoring in the 18th minute and added the second on the stroke of half-time to give his team a comfortable lead at the break which they held onto in the second half without conceding.
Down at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva in the other match on schedule national beach soccer player Kevon "Showtime" Woodley continued to impress in his quest for senior national football team call-up by netting the decisive item in Cunupia FC's 2-1 defeat of AC Port-of-Spain.
Shem Clauzel, the son of long-time standout Ian "The Dreaded Dribbler" Clauzel handed AC Port-of-Spain the lead a minute before the half-time interval.
Nine minutes after the restart, Giovanni Abraham drew Cunupia FC level and 12 minutes before the final whistle, Woodley banged in the match-winner, to earn his team only their second win in 15 matches this campaign.
Last night (Wednesday, March 4), Defence Force h had a chance to restore its nine-point lead when they face San Juan Jabloteh at Couva from 6 pm followed by Morvant Caledonia and Central FC at the same venue two hours later, while Pt Fortin Civic hosted Club Sando at Mahaica Oval.
Full Results
March 3
Cunupia FC 2 (Giovanni Abraham 54, Kevon Woodley 78) vs AC Port-of-Spain 1 (Shem Clauzel 44), Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 7pm
La Horquetta Rangers 2 (Kishun Seecharan 18, 45) vs Police FC 0, La Horquetta Rec. Grd, 7pm - Match Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d793_8OSX14&feature=emb_title)
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 14 11 2 1 25 11 +14 35
2 La Horquetta Rangers 15 9 2 4 43 18 +25 29
3 Police FC 16 6 5 5 28 18 +10 23
4 W Connection 14 6 3 5 23 20 +3 21
5 Morvant Caledonia United 14 5 6 3 17 17 0 21
6 Point Fortin Civic 14 6 3 5 19 21 -2 21
7 Club Sando 15 5 4 6 23 19 +4 19
8 San Juan Jabloteh 15 4 4 7 19 29 -10 16
9 Central FC 15 3 4 8 15 26 -11 13
10 AC Port of Spain 15 3 4 8 18 35 -17 13
11 Cunupia FC 15 2 5 8 13 29 -16 11
Upcoming Matches.
March 4
San Juan Jabloteh vs Defence Force, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 6pm
Morvant Caledonia United vs Central FC, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 8pm
Point Fortin Civic vs Club Sando, Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin 7pm
March 6
W Connection v AC Port of Spain, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
March 7
Point Fortin Civic v Morvant Caledonia United, 6pm, Mahaica Oval
March 8
Club Sando v La Horquetta Rangers, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium
Central FC v Cunupia FC, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force v Police FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
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Is Shem Clauzel related to the Clauzel of yesteryear.
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Is Shem Clauzel related to the Clauzel of yesteryear.
Yes, he is his son.
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Is Shem Clauzel related to the Clauzel of yesteryear.
Yes, he is his son.
Wow, time flies! Nice to see his name regularly on the scoreboard.
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Is Shem Clauzel related to the Clauzel of yesteryear.
Yes, he is his son.
Wow, time flies! Nice to see his name regularly on the scoreboard.
Anything like Pops? ;D
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Army stops Jabloteh to maintain 9-point lead.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
T&T Pro League leaders Defence Force just cannot stop winning.
On Wednesday at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain Couva, the Army men benefitted from an own goal in the 15th minute, as well as a 61st-minute item from the boot of Hashim Arcia, which extended their lead further on the 11-team standings.
The San Juan men may have only themselves to blame for surrendering maximum points. They pulled a goal back in the 76th minute from Justin Araujo-Wilson, but it was the own goal that came unfortunately from Malik Mieres that cost them dearly.
The win for the Defence Force means they have now moved to 38 points to maintain their nine-point lead on their closest rivals Terminix La Horquetta Rangers on 29 points.
In another game Morvant Caledonia United secured third with 24 points by defeating Central FC 3-1 in the second match of a doubleheader. However, it was the Central men who took the advantage with a 35th-minute Sean Bonval's strike.
Thereafter, Tev Lawrence equalized for the Morvant men in the 48th, while Joshua Alexander's 53rd and Mulik Duke's 93rd-minute item sealed the win.
Meanwhile, Point Fortin Civic and Tiger Tank Club Sando shared the points in a 1-1 tie at the Mahaica Oval. Point Fortin may have benefitted more from the result, moving to the fifth position on the standings with 22 points. Ronell Paul gave his team the lead in the 64th minute. The home team got a late equalizer in the 90+3 minute from Michael Basdeo.
March 4 Results
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Justin Araujo-Wilson 76) vs Defence Force 2 (Malik Mieres 15 Own-Goal, Hashim Arcia 61), Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 6pm - Match Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPgVSu-Th4w&fbclid=IwAR3JsNeYpf9eQM681U-EJpVPd4ty1sbPFFh3JKrIyYHFhcf8I4P_a3LM474)
Morvant Caledonia United 3 (Tev Lawrence 48, Joshua Alexander 53, Mulik Duke 90+3) vs Central FC 1 (Sean Bonval 35), Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 8pm
Point Fortin Civic 1 (Michael Basdeo 90+3) vs Club Sando 1 (Ronell Paul 64), Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin 7pm
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 15 12 2 1 27 12 +15 38
2 La Horquetta Rangers 15 9 2 4 43 18 +25 29
3 Morvant Caledonia United 15 6 6 3 20 18 +2 24
4 Police FC 16 6 5 5 28 18 +10 23
5 Point Fortin Civic 15 6 4 5 20 22 -2 22
6 W Connection 14 6 3 5 23 20 +3 21
7 Club Sando 16 5 5 6 24 20 +4 20
8 San Juan Jabloteh 16 4 4 8 20 31 -11 16
9 Central FC 16 3 4 9 16 29 -13 13
10 AC Port of Spain 15 3 4 8 18 35 -17 13
11 Cunupia FC 15 2 5 8 13 29 -16 11
Upcoming Matches.
March 6
W Connection v AC Port of Spain, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
March 7
Point Fortin Civic v Morvant Caledonia United, 6pm, Mahaica Oval
March 8
Club Sando v La Horquetta Rangers, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium
Central FC v Cunupia FC, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force v Police FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
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WATCH: La Horquetta Rangers stayed in touch with leaders Defence Force and closed the gap to six points after blanking third-placed Police in their latest T&T Pro League encounter.
https://www.youtube.com/v/d793_8OSX14
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WATCH: The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force remains on course for the 2020 T&T Pro League Title after notching another victory to help them regain a nine-point lead over second-placed La Horquetta Rangers.
https://www.youtube.com/v/VPgVSu-Th4w
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It was unfortunate that I was not able to see a game while in TT. Games suspended and to busy checking long times friends. Nice goal(volley) by Seecharan.
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Hudson, Gordon lift W Connection to third.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Isaiah Hudson and Gem Gordon were both on target to lead reigning title-holders W Connection to a 2-0 victory AC Port-of-Spain in the lone 2019/2020 T&T Pro League match at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on Friday.
The victory lifted six-time champions W Connection to 24 points from 15 matches, the same as fourth-placed Morvant Caledonia United but with a superior goal-difference of plus-five to plus-two, while Police FC and Pt Fortin Civic are next with 23 and 22 points from 16 and 15 matches respectively.
At Couva on Friday, the “Savonetta Boys” had to wait until the 42nd minute to take the lead in the 42nd minute against stubborn AC Port-of-Spain, and 20 minutes into the second-half Gem Gordon doubled the advantage for W Connection, which they took to the final whistle.
On Saturday night, Pt Fortin Civic and Morvant Caledonia United both had chances to move ahead of W Connection as they clashed at Mahaica Oval, while three matches are on the schedule Sunday with title-favourites Defence Force facing Police FC in the feature match of a double-header at Couva from 6 pm.
Currently, three-time T&T Pro League champions and 18-time national league winners Defence Force leads the 11-team table with 38 points from 15 matches and needs only seven points from their remaining five matches to claim yet another league crown.
However, Police FC, who have already claimed the First Citizens Cup, the first title up for grabs this season, will have their eyes set on upsetting their protective service rivals while improving their ambitions for a top-two finish.
Two hours earlier at Couva, lowly Central FC and Cunupia FC will do battle while in the other match on today, seventh-placed Tiger Tanks Club Sando entertains second-placed Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, who have to 29 points from 15 matches.
Full Results
W Connection 2 (Isaiah Hudson 42, Mickaeel Gem Gordon 65) v AC Port of Spain 0, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium - Match Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPs2MjauZkk&feature=emb_title)
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 15 12 2 1 27 12 +15 38
2 La Horquetta Rangers 15 9 2 4 43 18 +25 29
3 W Connection 15 7 3 5 25 20 +5 24
4 Morvant Caledonia United 15 6 6 3 20 18 +2 24
5 Police FC 16 6 5 5 28 18 +10 23
6 Point Fortin Civic 15 6 4 5 20 22 -2 22
7 Club Sando 16 5 5 6 24 20 +4 20
8 San Juan Jabloteh 16 4 4 8 20 31 -11 16
9 Central FC 16 3 4 9 16 29 -13 13
10 AC Port of Spain 16 3 4 9 18 37 -19 13
11 Cunupia FC 15 2 5 8 13 29 -16 11
Upcoming Matches.
Saturday March 7
Point Fortin Civic v Morvant Caledonia United, 6pm, Mahaica Oval
Sunday March 8
Club Sando v La Horquetta Rangers, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium
Central FC v Cunupia FC, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force v Police FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Tuesday March 10
AC Port of Spain v San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
Wednesday March 11
Central FC v Point Fortin Civic, 6pm, La Horquetta Recreational Ground
La Horquetta Rangers v Morvant Caledonia United, 8pm, La Horquetta Recreational Ground
W Connection v Cunupia FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force v Club Sando, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
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WATCH: W Connection jumped into third place in the T&T Pro League standings following a 2-0 win over strugglers, AC Port Of Spain.
https://www.youtube.com/v/FPs2MjauZkk
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live game
https://www.youtube.com/v/UfnjYosPyKY
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Sam's double pushes Army closer to title.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Former national youth player Brent Sam scored early in each half as Defence Force whipped Police FC 4-1 to close in on a record 19th national league title when the 2019/2020 T&T Pro League continued on Sunday night.
Playing in the second match of a double-header on a very hot and humid evening at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, the Army/Coast Guard combination, which last won the Pro League crown in the 2012/2013 season their third in the competition's 20-year history went ahead as early as the third minute via Aaron Lester.
The Lawmen who have already claimed the First Citizens Cup so far this season hardly had time to try and recover from the early setback when Sam, the youngest brother of ex-England-based T&T striker Hector Sam made it 2-0 in the fourth minute.
Nine minutes before the half-time the rampant Defence Force line-up boasting their next generation of strikers as veteran Devorn Jorsling, the league's all-time leading scorer with 155-plus goals edges towards the end of his career, virtually put the match to rest when Dwight Quintero made it 3-0.
On the resumption, Police FC needed to score the next goal in the match if they harboured any hopes of mounting a come-back and Elijah Belgrave provided that hope by scoring in the 56th minute.
But, that joy was short-lived as within three minutes when Sam fired in his second on the night and Defence Force's fourth.
With the comfortable lead, Defence Force then coasted the rest of the half to push their points tally to 41 from 16 matches, nine more than second-placed Terminix La Horquetta Rangers who have to 32 points from 16 matches.
This after national winger Ross Russell Jr netted the 82nd-minute item to earn Rangers a 1-0 win over Tiger Tanks Club Sando at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
With four matches left each for the top two clubs, Defence Force needs only to win two of their matches to add to their title triumphs or for Rangers to falter in two matches as well.
In Sunday's first match at Couva, former St Anthony's College Secondary Schools Football League stand-outs, Central FC's Che Paul Benny (40th) and Cunupia FC's Xavier Rajpaul (54th), both scored from their penalty-spot in their team's 1-1 draw.
Full Results
Saturday March 7
Point Fortin Civic 1 (Tyrel Emmanuel 41) v Morvant Caledonia United 0, 6pm, Mahaica Oval
Sunday March 8
Club Sando 0 v La Horquetta Rangers 1 (Ross Russell Jr, 82), 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium
Central FC 1 (Ché Raul Benny 40-Pen) v Cunupia FC 1 (Xavier Rajpaul 54-Pen), 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force 4 (Aaron Lester 3, Brent Sam 4, 59, Dwight Quintero 36) v Police FC 1 (Elijah Belgrave 56), 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 16 13 2 1 31 13 +18 41
2 La Horquetta Rangers 16 10 2 4 44 18 +26 32
3 Point Fortin Civic 16 7 4 5 21 22 -1 25
4 W Connection 15 7 3 5 25 20 +5 24
5 Morvant Caledonia United 16 6 6 4 20 19 +1 24
6 Police FC 17 6 5 6 29 22 +7 23
7 Club Sando 17 5 5 7 24 21 +3 20
8 San Juan Jabloteh 16 4 4 8 20 31 -11 16
9 Central FC 17 3 5 9 17 30 -13 14
10 AC Port of Spain 16 3 4 9 18 37 -19 13
11 Cunupia FC 16 2 6 8 14 30 -16 12
Upcoming Matches.
Tuesday March 10
AC Port of Spain v San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
Wednesday March 11
Central FC v Point Fortin Civic, 6pm, La Horquetta Recreational Ground
La Horquetta Rangers v Morvant Caledonia United, 8pm, La Horquetta Recreational Ground
W Connection v Cunupia FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force v Club Sando, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
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Edwards grab winner for Jabloteh.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Jair Edwards got the lone goal as San Juan Jabloteh eked out a 1-0 win over AC Port-of-Spain when matches in the 2019/2020 T&T Pro League continued at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Tuesday night.
Edwards found the back of the net in the 65th minute to hand Jabloteh a fifth win in 17 matches to move to 19 points, but still eighth on the 11-club table.
Going into last night's three matches on schedule 18-time national league champions and three-time Pro League winners' Defence Force led the standings with 41 from 16 matches, nine more than second-placed Terminix La Horquetta Rangers and needs to win two of remaining four matches or hope Rangers slip up in their next to claim their first title since the 2012/2013 season.
Point Fortin Civic sits third with 25 followed by six-time winners and defending champions W Connection with 24, the same as Morvant Caledonia United.
In their remaining matches, Defence Force faces Morvant Caledonia United, Pt Fortin Civic and three-time champions Central FC while Rangers come up against Central FC, Cunupia FC and Point Fortin Civic.
Full Results
Tuesday March 10
AC Port of Spain 0 v San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Jair Edwards 65), 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium - Match Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YqflgUnVT8&feature=emb_title)
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 16 13 2 1 31 13 +18 41
2 La Horquetta Rangers 16 10 2 4 44 18 +26 32
3 Point Fortin Civic 16 7 4 5 21 22 -1 25
4 W Connection 15 7 3 5 25 20 +5 24
5 Morvant Caledonia United 16 6 6 4 20 19 +1 24
6 Police FC 17 6 5 6 29 22 +7 23
7 Club Sando 17 5 5 7 24 21 +3 20
8 San Juan Jabloteh 17 5 4 8 21 31 -10 19
9 Central FC 17 3 5 9 17 30 -13 14
10 AC Port of Spain 17 3 4 10 18 38 -20 13
11 Cunupia FC 16 2 6 8 14 30 -16 12
Leading Scorers
9 - Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers), Shaqkeem Joseph (Club Sando).
7 - Kevon Woodley (Cunupia FC), Tyrone Charles (La Horquetta Rangers).
6 - Tev Lawrence (Morvant Caledonia United), Kareem Freitas, Keion Wilson (Police FC), Kerville Jeremiah (Pt Fortin Civic), Isaiah Lee, Kishun Seecharan (La Horquetta Rangers), Dimitrie Apai (W Connection).
5 - John-Paul Rochford (AC PoS), Che Paul Benny, Sean Bonval (Central FC), Keron Cornwall (Club Sando), Reon Moore (Defence Force).
4 - Keron Cummings, (La Horquetta Rangers), Rashad Hyacinth (AC PoS), Cristian Thomas, Juma Clarence, (Police FC), Daniel Diaz (Pt Fortin Civic), Jevaughn Humphrey (W Connection).
Upcoming Matches.
Wednesday March 11
Central FC v Point Fortin Civic, 6pm, La Horquetta Recreational Ground
La Horquetta Rangers v Morvant Caledonia United, 8pm, La Horquetta Recreational Ground
W Connection v Cunupia FC, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force v Club Sando, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
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WATCH: Suffering a 1-0 loss, AC Port of Spain have only themselves to blame for not getting at least a point in their clash with San Juan Jabloteh.
https://www.youtube.com/v/3YqflgUnVT8
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Club Sando slows down Army title march.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
National defender Curtis Gonzales went from villain to hero as his penalty-kick strike four minutes into time added on at the end of the match earned T&T Pro League leaders Defence Force an entertaining 4-4 draw with Tiger Tanks Club Sando at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Wednesday night.
Despite the drawn results, Defence Force still leads the 11-club table with 42 points from 17 matches, seven ahead of Terminix La Horquetta Rangers with three matches left for both clubs and will claim the title with a victory in their next match or a slip up by Rangers.
However, on Wednesday, the Army/Coast-Guard combination had only themselves to blame for not coming away with all three points and climbing to within a win of a record 19th national league crown and fourth in the competition 20-year history after squandering a commanding 2-0 lead.
Going into the match at Mucurapo, Defence Force who last won the Pro League in the 2012/2013 season held a nine-point cushion over Terminix La Horquetta Rangers and needed to win two of their remaining four matches to seal the title.
And it took only six minutes for first-year head coach Lloyd Andrews and his charges to take the lead through Dylon King who then doubled the "Teteron Men" advantage in the 32nd minute.
But on the stroke of half-time things started to turn in coach Angus Eve's Club Sando favour when some sloppy defensive play by Gonzales allowed Kevon Williams to steal the ball and beat advancing goalkeeper Andre Marchan, who picked up a thigh injury in the process.
Seven minutes after the restart, Shaqkeem Joseph made amends for a clear missed chances two minutes earlier when he capitalised on a mix-up between defender Jamali Garci and a nervous-looking substitute goalkeeper Sheldon Clarke to make it 2-all by lobbing the ball over the latter from a long clearance in his half.
Keon Moore then had a chance to reclaim the lead for Defence Force in the 55th minute, but his tame effort was easily handled by goalkeeper Kelvin Henry.
Clarke's nightmarish afternoon would continue in goal for Defence Force on the hour mark when he hesitated with the ball at his feet before robbed of possession, only for Club Sando's Michael Basdeo to let him off the hook, by firing his effort overbar.
Keron Cornwall eventually made Clarke and his sloppy defender pay for their casual play after the goalkeeper's weak clearance fell to his feet, and he nonchalantly curled a right-footed effort into the top left-hand corner of the goal for a shock 3-2 lead.
The out-of-sync Moore had another chance to get on the scoresheet and put his team on level terms, but after some neat build-up play at the top of the Club Sando 18-yard box with Brent Sam, his effort was smartly kept out at the near post by Henry.
The game was no an all-out attacking affair with chances coming fast and furious at both ends with both sets of players tiring from the afternoon hot and humid conditions.
And newly recruited Dwight Quintero eventually took one of the many chances for Defence Force to get his team level again at 3-3 by out jumping two Club Sando defenders to nod in a headed at the from a Moore left-sided flighted cross in the 76th minute.
Club Sando may have felt hard done by Quintero's equaliser after wasting a few chances of their own, but Joseph had them celebrating six minutes later when tapped into at the far post, with his league-best 11th goal of the season, for a 4-3 advantage after second-half introduction Trevin Caesar had raced past three opposing players on the left side of the defence and fired a pass across the goal through a crowd of four players.
Joseph's strike seemed a certain match-winner for Club Sando, however, Defence Force managed to eke out a deserved share of the points when Gonzales stepped up and converted a penalty after referee Kwinsi Williams whistled for an infringement four minutes into time added-on.
At La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta, Rangers had no such troubles as they coasted to a 4-0 trashing of Morvant Caledonia United with Isaiah Lee scoring a first-half brace in the 23rd and 45th minutes before Jamal Creighton (66th) and Kadeem Corbin (86th) added second-half items.
Also on Wednesday, Point Fortin Civic whipped three-time league winners Central FC 4-1 in the first match at La Horquetta while six-time league winners and out-going champions W Connection blanked Cunupia FC 3-0 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
Full Results
Wednesday March 11
Central FC 1 (Ché Raul Benny 42) v Point Fortin Civic 4 (Cory Cyrus 9, Tyrel Emmanuel 24, Akeem Redhead 84, Rondell Paul 90+1), 6pm, La Horquetta Recreational Ground
La Horquetta Rangers 4 (Isaiah Lee 23, 45+1, Jamal Creighton 66, Kadeem Corbin 86) v Morvant Caledonia United 0, 8pm, La Horquetta Recreational Ground
W Connection 3 (Neil Benjamin Jr, 23, Mickaeel Jem Gordon 48, Isaiah Hudson 64) v Cunupia FC 0, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force 4 (Dillon King 6, 32, Dwight Quintero 76, Curtis Gonzales 94+4-Pen) v Club Sando 4 (Kevon Williams 45+1, Shaqkeem Joseph 52, 82, Keron Cornwall 65), 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 17 13 3 1 35 17 +18 42
2 La Horquetta Rangers 17 11 2 4 48 18 +30 35
3 Point Fortin Civic 17 8 4 5 25 23 +2 28
4 W Connection 16 8 3 5 28 20 +8 27
5 Morvant Caledonia United 17 6 6 5 20 23 -3 24
6 Police FC 17 6 5 6 29 22 +7 23
7 Club Sando 18 5 6 7 28 25 +3 21
8 San Juan Jabloteh 17 5 4 8 21 31 -10 19
9 Central FC 18 3 5 10 18 34 -16 14
10 AC Port of Spain 17 3 4 10 18 38 -20 13
11 Cunupia FC 17 2 6 9 14 33 -19 12
Leading Scorers
11 - Shaqkeem Joseph (Club Sando).
10 - Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers).
8 - Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers).
7 - Kevon Woodley (Cunupia FC), Tyrone Charles (La Horquetta Rangers).
6 - Tev Lawrence (Morvant Caledonia United), Che Paul Benny (Central FC), Keron Cornwall (Club Sando), Kareem Freitas (Police FC), Keion Wilson (Police FC), Kerville Jeremiah (Point Fortin Civic), Kishun Seecharan (La Horquetta Rangers), Dimitrie Apai (W Connection).
5 - John-Paul Rochford (AC Port-of-Spain), Sean Bonval (Central FC), Reon Moore (Defence Force).
4 - Keron Cummings, (La Horquetta Rangers), Rashad Hyacinth (AC Port-of-Spain), Cristian Thomas (Police FC), Juma Clarence (Police FC), Daniel Diaz (Point Fortin Civic), Jevaughn Humphrey (W Connection).
Upcoming Matches - Round Two Match Day Nine.
Friday March 13
AC Port of Spain v Police FC, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
Sunday March 15
Cunupia FC v Point Fortin Civic, 3:30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium
La Horquetta Rangers v Central FC, 4pm, La Horquetta Recreational Ground
San Juan Jabloteh v W Connection, 4pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
Morvant Caledonia United v Defence Force, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
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WATCH: Highlights of La Horquetta Rangers' 4-0 win over Morvant Caledonia United
https://www.youtube.com/v/yJNN1zcHTQ4
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T&T Pro League on hold due to coronavirus
By Sheldon Pierre (T&T Newsday)
THE T&T Pro League has joined several sporting disciplines across the world and locally to call off matches this weekend as they continue to monitor the situation with covid19 (coronavirus). The 11-team league, which has three more matchdays remaining in the 2019-2020 season, was carded to be completed by next weekend.
The League's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Julia Baptiste, sent a press release on Friday evening stating, “The T&T Pro League has taken the decision to cancel all matches in the League as of this weekend until further notice. This comes on the heels of what is taking place nationally with covid19 (novel coronavirus).”
The release continued, “The T&T Pro League believes that it has a responsibility to protect its players, technical staff, match commissioners, referees, dedicated media officers and the general public from any continuous spread of the virus. It is with this in mind that the League has taken the aforementioned decision.”
Baptiste added, “We must be responsible as a league. While we are not going to be in a state of panic or pandemonia, we have to be mindful of the multiplier effect of the virus and act in the best interest of all stakeholders and limit its spread as much as possible.”
Defence Force are closing in on their fourth league title as they lead the chart with 42 points from 17 games (13 wins, three draws, one defeat) followed by Terminix La Horquetta Rangers with 35 points (11 wins, two draws and four defeats) and Point Fortin Civic FC with 28 points (eight wins, four draws and five defeats).
The leading scorers are Club Sando`s Shaqkeem Joseph with 11 goals, Jamal Creighton (Terminix La Horquetta Rangers) with 10 goals and Kevon ‘Showtime’ Woodley (Cunupia FC) with seven.
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Sorry if I am making a joke on this situation. Is years this virus hitting TT Football. The stadia always empty. Is only now they notice that. Anyway forumites. Be safe. Is cold turkey for the next 3 months. NO FOOTBALL.
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Sorry if I am making a joke on this situation. Is years this virus hitting TT Football. The stadia always empty. Is only now they notice that. Anyway forumites. Be safe. Is cold turkey for the next 3 months. NO FOOTBALL.
VALID POINT.
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Decision on Pro League season expected soon.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
A decision on the status of the 2019-2020 TT Pro League season is expected soon, as early as this week, according to the league’s CEO Julia Baptiste.
The 2019-2020 season was suspended by the league on Friday, hours before the round two match day nine fixture between AC Port of Spain and Police, in order to combat the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Baptiste, in an interview on Monday, said, “That is a decision for the board at this time. A decision will be taken, if to play or accept the table after round (Two) match day eight as it is. It will appear we may have to do (the latter).”
She pointed out that such a decision may be taken this week.
At present, Defence Force lead the 11-team standings with 42 points, with Terminix La Horquetta Rangers next on 35.
With regards to the financial allocations for the participating clubs (leaders Defence Force and Police are exempted from government subventions), Baptiste said, “We received the subvention from last year and that is what the clubs were using to manage their affairs.
She added, “What we got last year was budgeted for the season.”
However, it is understood that debutants Cunupia FC did not receive any subvention for this season.
According to a Cunupia FC member, “The subvention was based on a Cabinet note and it has to be approved. I don’t know if it has to do with (the time when) we applied to join the league. Maybe next season we might get a subvention.”
The Cunupia FC member said, “We had no sponsor nor subvention. We struggled to make ends meet.”
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youth PFL off indefinitely ....
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Army declared Pro League champs due to COVID19
T&T Guardian
Defence Force was declared the winner of the 2019/2020 T&T Pro League yesterday, after a decision by the League to take preventative measures, due to the deadly COVID19 (coronavirus) which has now reached a total of nine cases.
Yesterday the League in a release said, “Given the existing situation with regard to the worldwide pandemic, COVID19 (coronavirus), the League has taken the decision to declare the Defence Force Football Club the 2020 League champions. The decision was taken in light of the fact that we will not be able to complete the League anytime soon. At present, we now have nine affected citizens reported and it is more than likely that this will grow in numbers over the coming weeks.”
It said also: “The League is of the view that this is the best decision to take under the circumstances and extends congratulations to the Defence Force Football Club. We also continue to pray for our nation at this time.”
Currently the Army Coast Guard Combination team leads the 11-team standings with 42 points after 17 matches. They enjoy a comfortable seven-point advantage on their closest rival Terminix La Horquetta Rangers on 35 points in 17 games, with Point Fortin Civic, W Connection- the multiple times winners, and Morvant Caledonia United securing third, fourth and fifth on the table respectively.
Final Team Standings 2019-2020
Teams P W D L F A Pts
1. Defence Force FC 17 13 3 1 35 17 42
2. La Horquetta Rangers 17 11 2 4 48 18 35
3. Point Fortin Civic 17 8 4 5 25 23 28
4. W Connection 16 8 3 5 28 20 27
5. Morvant Caledonia United 17 6 6 5 20 23 24
6. Police FC 17 6 5 6 29 22 23
7. Club Sando 18 5 6 7 28 25 21
8. San Juan Jabloteh 17 5 4 8 21 31 19
9. Central FC 18 3 5 10 18 34 14
10. AC Port-of-Spain 17 3 4 10 18 38 13
11. Cunupia FC 17 2 6 9 14 33 12
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Has the Premier League declared Liverpool champions?
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Andrews lauds Defence Force flexibility in Pro League triumph
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)
The name Lloyd Curtis "Sonoltee" Andrews may not be popular in local football to many over the past three decades.
However, after being around the sport for the last 30-plus years, the 57-year-old coach Andrews has finally made his mark at the highest level of domestic football in T&T.
This after guiding T&T Defence Force to a record 23rd national league crown and their fourth T&T Pro League in the competition's 20-year history. It's also the team's first since the 2012/2013 season.
The Army/Coast-Guard, a dominant force in local and Conaccaf football back in the day, captured the national league crown in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993 and 1995 followed by triumphs in the Semi-Professional League in 1996 and 1997 and the T&T Pro League inaugural season in 1999, 2010/2011, and the 2012/2013 campaign.
And last week following the postponement of the rest of the 2019/2020 11-club Pro League season due to the worldwide Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic a decision was taken to name the "Teteron Men" under the guidance of first-year head coach Andrews as league champions with three matches left to complete the season.
As it stood, Defence Force led by veteran captain Jerwyn "Bally" Balthazar headed the table with 42 points from 17 matches, seven ahead of Terminix La Horquetta Rangers while Point Fortin Civic during their best campaign was third with 28 points, one ahead of six-time champions and last year's league winners' W Connection who had a match in hand.
The Pro League release stated: Given the existing situation concerning the worldwide pandemic, COVID19 (coronavirus), the League has decided to declare the Defence Force Football Club the 2020 League champions. The decision was taken because we will not be able to complete the League anytime soon. At present, we now have nine affected citizens reported and it is more than likely that this will grow in numbers over the coming weeks.”
It said also: “The League is of the view that this is the best decision to take under the circumstances and extends congratulations to the Defence Force Football Club. We also continue to pray for our nation at this time.”
Commenting on being declared champions, Andrews who got involved in the managerial aspect of the sport through a small-goal competition in his community of La Horquetta almost 25 years ago before moving onto La Horquetta Dazzlers in the Eastern Football Association said on Monday: It was a bittersweet feeling for me personally."
He added, "As a coach, it is always nice to lead your team to titles and more so a national league title, but I would have loved to finish off the rest of the season as well, with only three matches to go.
"We suffered one defeat in the first round of ten matches, that was against Morvant Caledonia United, a 2-1 defeat and so far in the second round of competition we were undefeated, and with matches left to play against Morvant Caledonia United, Central FC and Point Fortin, we were pretty confident of not losing any of those matches."
Reflecting of the season before it being declared over, Andrews said the turning point in confidence for his players came when they defeated main rival, Rangers 2-0 at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta despite national defender Curtis Gonzales being shown a straight red card by referee Quincy Williams for violent conduct against Kishun Seecharan on February 4, 2020.
Before that match we came up with specific tactics for the encounter with Rangers, and while at first some of the players were apprehensive towards I got them as well as other members of my technical staff to believe in it.
"During the training drill I boasted to them that once we were able to do it properly in training for 15 minutes non-stop it will work in the match, and despite the early sending off of Gonzales, we were able to accomplish our goal."
It was the first match that I saw people really taking a serious look at what we were doing and afterwards our performance against Rangers was praised in many quarters.
"Coming up against a quality team like Rangers we had to do something different and even though they had the player advantage it looked as though we had two or three players more on the field and this was all down to the players being able to adapt to doing different things while playing different positions.
He added, "So for us, it was mainly about knowing how to manage and control matches and from then on we had a renewed high level of confidence and matches started to become much easier for us."
Andrews, who joined the Defence Force back on January 11, 1982, until 2013 said that it was pleasing to see that sometimes when his team didn't play their best brand of football the players were still able to pull out a win.
"You know you have a good team when you're able to play badly and still get wins, while you maintain that form by winning when playing good football as well.
However, the positive end to his first season in charge of the team was not something many may have expected even though Andrews had the experience of the Technical Director of the Defence Force team who won two Digicel Pro Bowls and a First Citizens Cup under former coach and player, Marvin Gordon, now an assistant coach at San Juan Jabloteh.
A slightly peeved Andrews noted that while he was happy being part of the Defence Force technical staff back then he felt he was never fully given the recognition as being the team's "TD" during those two seasons.
"So when I was approached to take up the coaching role my main focus was on winning what I consider the biggest prize in local football, which is the national league crown."
Andrews, a former Eastern Football Association coach of T&T Coast Guard and then T&T Air Guard/Coast Guard combination up until the 20152016 seasons explained, "I was not in favour of putting too much emphasis on the Ascension League while getting to the semifinals of the First Citizens Cup was my target, as I planned to use those competitions as a key part of my pre-season to try and implement and stamp my style of play on the team.
"At the same time I told the players that if we found ourselves in a position to win the Ascension League we will try our best and do it, but our focus was to be in peak shape for when the Pro League began.
"When we started there were doubts about my capabilities even from within, noted Andrews who was part of a group of local coaches that included the deceased Arthur "Jap" Brown, and Keith Look Loy who travelled to Brazil for a coaching course early in his career.
"That experience in Brazil and visiting clubs like Fluminense, Santos, Sao Paulo, Botafogo and Flamengo was an experience that helped make me into the coach I am today along with the staunch support of my deceased wife, Wendy Andrews., who always said that I would be successful."
"As it turned out, we were able to capture the Ascension League crown and we didn't manage to get to to the semis of the First Citizens Cup, but overall they both served us well in getting the right mix of players in terms of youth and experience with the likes of Adrian Welch, Brent Sam, Jamali Garcia, Jelani Felix, Aaron Enill, Jameel Cooper, Jamille Boatswain, and Dwight Quintero coming into to blend with experienced campaigners Balthazar, Devorn Jorsling, Gonzales, Rodell Elcock, Sheldon Clarke, Andrew Marchan.
Not to be forgotten Andrews also praised the all-round teamwork of his staff which included ex-national midfielder and national senior and youth team assistant coach, Hutson "Barber" Charles, Devin Elcock, Sion Cain (trainer), Demetri Villoreol (physiotherapist), Mc Allister Estrada (medical), Sheldon Barker (equipment manager) and Warrant Officer Ayeesha Sadlow.
Looking ahead, Andrews said he along with his technical staff and players are all praying for the country and taking precautionary measures with regards to the COVID-19 virus and wishing for things to get back to normal as soon as possible so that they can get back onto the field of play.
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Hutson Charles pleased with Defence Force
By Joel Bailey (T&T Newsday)
FORMER STRIKE Squad midfielder Hutson “Barber” Charles was pleased with the accomplishments of Defence Force FC during the 2019-2020 season, as they copped both the Ascension Invitational Tournament and the T&T Pro League titles.
Charles worked as an assistant to first-time coach Lloyd Andrews, who had previously served as Defence Force’s technical director.
In an interview on Tuesday, Charles, who also served as joint national coach, alongside Jamaal Shabazz, from 2012-2013, said, “The season went the way how we wanted it to go. The Ascension League, we used that as a pre-season tournament. We (were) not studying the results, it was just to get the system and the whole pattern of play going. We picked up some form and we won the league.”
The Ascension League was initiated by businessman and owner of Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, Richard Ferguson, and it ran from September until December.
“After the Ascension League came the (First Citizens) Cup,” said Charles. “We peaked at the ending of the Ascension League (but then our) form dipped a little bit. We realised that the coach Andrews and the staff realised that. We (said) we’re going to use the knockout tournament to see how far we could go but it was preparation for the league.”
The league was a memorable one for Defence Force, as they won 13 out of their 17 matches, and tallied 42 points.
Charles noted, “From the beginning, our main focus was to win the Pro League. We started off pretty well and everything (fell) into place. It was evident that we only lost one game. The only disappointment was that we would have loved to finish the league.”
With the coronavirus pandemic, were the players understanding of why the season was stopped or disappointed?
“It was two-fold,” Charles replied. “They were disappointed that they couldn’t finish the league, with three games to go. They (were) really looking forward, although we needed just three points, to get nine points. When we told them that the league has been stopped, you could have seen the disappointed faces.
“Nevertheless, it’s a disaster that is happening now and it’s nothing we could have (done) to prevent it. I think it was a good decision the league took in suspending (the rest of matches) because everybody’s health is important.”
Regarding what moments stood out for him during the 2019-2020 season, Charles said, “I think the vision that the coach and the staff had, from when we were introduced to the team because this is the first time that he’s coaching the team. I came back into (the team) this year after a long absence.”
Andrews replaced former Defence Force and TT midfielder Marvin Gordon during the off-season.
“We (sat) down and we planned, together with (assistant coach) Devin Elcock. To see that the plan came together as we panned out, that’s going to stick in our memory.
“Pertaining to any game that stands out, it was the second round game that we played up in La Horquetta, against Rangers, after going a man down in the first 15 minutes. We (stuck) to our game plan and we won that game 2-0.”
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Genuine structure for T&T football
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS of both the T&T Pro League and Super League are open to merging both divisions of top-flight local football once the sport returns to normalcy after the ongoing global covid19 pandemic.
The possible partnership between the pair will see the Pro League serve as the highest ranked league in local professional football while the Super League stands to become the Second Division.
Last year, there were plans to stage an inaugural T-League – a combination of both Pro League and Super League. However, those plans were stalled due to differences of opinions between both parties.
This idea of a two-tier competition was also pitched to Super League clubs in August 2019 via a media release from Pro League chief executive officer Julia Baptiste ahead of the 2019-2020 season. One month later, this initiative was frowned upon by Super League clubs and its administration, who wrote the T&T Football Association (TTFA) via its secretary Peter Thomas, rejecting their offer of a possible merger claiming it “unethical, political and short-sighted.”
However, since the December 2019 TTFA election, the Super League has reneged on its decision and is now intent on facilitating the joining of both local competitions.
In separate interviews with acting Pro League chairman, Brent Sancho and Super League president, Keith Look Loy on Friday, the pair agreed there is a possibility the merger can still be implemented post-covid19.
The local football season usually gets underway during late August and early September.
“It (merger) is very much an option. It’s something that we are talking about within the league. All sides had agreed to it and we were still in the talking processes of it and then (the TTFA) election came. We hope we can go back to the drawing board with this idea. It would be the sensible thing to do as it relates to football. Looking at the two-tier system, conversations should be held, I believe so. It’s been agreed upon by all parties to get it that way.”
In response to a question posed to Look Loy via WhatsApp on why the sudden change of heart, the Super League president revealed his board had now thrown its support behind this developmental initiative. He, however, claims it was the Pro League who may have had issues with the merger back in mid-2019.
“(I have) no comment on that. We don't know what the post-covid19 world and football will look like. Who says Super League opposed to anything? The last position advanced by the (William) Wallace administration was to form a two-tiered league. Super League agreed. Pro League apparently had problems,” he said.
Sancho though confirmed the agreement of all involved parties and welcomed the ushering in of a new frontier for domestic football. The TTFA board member believes the two-tier system, which will see bottom-ranked teams relegated from Pro League to the Super League and top-ranked Super League teams advance to the top-flight, will create a more modernised and attractive structure for TT football.
“I’m certain (a merger) would serve football better, the two-tier system. We have to move to merge for a more professional environment, to create genuine structure in football. All stakeholders have to come hands on deck to make sure we put out football back in the position we used to be in,” Sancho explained.
The 2006 T&T World Cup representative remains optimistic the government’s coronavirus restrictions would soon be lifted to aid the speedy resumption of both youth, women and professional football on the local circuit.
While Sancho admitted the current pandemic is stifling corporate entities from investing in sport generally, he still called on stakeholders to rally behind the nation’s troops and pledge support to football development when things return to normalcy.
“Once we have a successful structure in football we would do well. We need to get that structure back going and we have to start putting TT first, that’s the bottom line. It’s imperative that we bounce back from this downtime as soon as we can,” he added.
Sancho concluded, “Particularly with sports, we need to put all hands on deck and everyone on board, because we know there will be difficult times, post covid19. This is a situation to not cut back, but to find resources to make sure we can move forward.”
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Pro League All-Stars: Russell picks ‘Ratty’, Jorsling, Guerra, ‘Boyo’ and an un-passable Rivers.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
If Angus Eve and Terry Fenwick, our first two Pro League luminaries, are household names, our third local coach, Ross Russell, is more understated but also quite successful.
Once described by World Cup 2006 hero Shaka Hislop as the most gifted Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper he has ever seen, Russell—the current goalkeeper coach for the Men’s National Under-20 Team—has made his mark as a coach too with two Pro League titles and an armful of knockout trophies at Defence Force while he also enjoyed stints at Central FC and North East Stars.
Wired868: What was your favourite season as a Pro League coach?
Russell: Definitely the year I won my first league title: 2011! I started off as a goalkeeper coach with the Men’s National Under-20 Team in 2000 under Zoran Vranes and got my first job as a head coach in about 2005 with the Defence Force Super League team.
I finished second for my last three seasons when I was asked to take the senior [Pro League] team from Kerry Jamerson, just before the start of the 2009 season. The 2010-11 season was my first full season and I remember that I did a lot of work on the mental of the players and their togetherness.
I broke the record with the longest streak of straight wins—14 games straight—and I was the most outspending coach for the year. I remember it was the year just before the State of Emergency, so I didn’t get a chance to defend the title.
Devorn Jorsling was my standout that season. I think he scored about 25 goals in all competitions. And Kevon Carter created loads for him. It was a team effort but they stood out.
Okay then, out with it. Who are the best XI players you worked with?
Goalkeeper: Glenroy Samuel (North East Stars)
I think he has a no-die spirit. Every time he goes on to the field, he wants to win. Trevor Nottingham was the goalkeeper coach at the time [with Stars] and we would instil in him that every day you train, you are training to be a winner and to get better.
He also had a wealth of experience by the time he came to us from playing in a World Youth Cup. I think he was fantastic.
Right back: Cory Rivers (Defence Force)
He has a unbelievable leadership quality, even though he was very silent. He rarely talked but he led by example—on and off the field.
Once he is on the pitch, he will give his all. And when he does speak, everybody listens.
Central defender: Jamal Jack (Central FC)
He brought an aerial ability that few Trinidad and Tobago defenders have. I don’t want to say he was vicious but he was brutal in tackles.
He put his body on the line to get the job done and he rarely made mistakes at the back. He didn’t hold back.
Central defender: Curtis ‘Boyo’ Gonzales (Defence Force)
His style is unique for a stopper. He possesses an ability to think out the game from the back like a midfielder would.
He likes having the ball and never panics in possession, he reads the game well and would outsmart plenty opponents. He is a natural leader as well.
Left back: Akile Edwards (Defence Force)
His strength was speed and the ability to overlap: every time! He was rarely ever unfit. His speed made him who he is.
He had a real work-rate and could go up and down the pitch. And even if you think you beat him, he would recover with his speed.
Midfielder: Sean Narcis (Defence Force)
For me, he is one of the best defensive midfielders I ever saw in terms of winning the ball. If you gave him a task to mark someone, he would stay with them whole day—but when he got the ball he could make a good pass too.
He would work his butt off for you.
Midfielder: Marvin Oliver (Central FC)
Working with Marvin is a dream for any coach because you have a fellah who leads by example. He works hard, he reads the game well and his ability to play the game is rare in Trinidad footballers. He always knew when to slow it down or speed it up.
He is one of the most complete footballers I have ever seen in the Pro League. Once he is on the pitch, you have a fellah who can carry the team.
Right wing: Kevon Carter (Defence Force)
His ability to go past players was amazing. He was the first guy I saw here who had an international rhythm in the way he went past players and saw danger behind an opponent’s back. With his ability, the players on his team loved him and opponents always hated to see him. He was always working and never unfit.
I never forced Carter to stay on one flank. I would tell him if you are not getting success on one side to go the next flank. You would hardly find that two full backs could stop him.
Playmaker: Ataulla Guerra (Central FC)
I shouldn’t even have to say anything about Ataulla! Ataulla was someone I just loved to see play. He sees passes that you and all don’t see and you wonder what he is doing. Also he had this ability to psyche out opponents.
Sometimes he would look like he is cheating but he always knew where to be to get the ball and to hurt the other team. And he had a real calmness in how he would finish opportunities.
Left wing: Gorean ‘Ratty’ Highley (North East Stars)
‘Ratty’ was not as quick as Carter but a little more shifty. Anyone he came up against, you had to fear him.
He could go past you with a fake or a pass or just knowing how to move off the ball. Just like how he lived his life is how he played: tricky! (Laughs)
He was always up to something and he knew how to finish. He left the game too early. He just quit suddenly and walked away; and that was that. He is one of the best youth players I have ever seen.
Striker: Devorn Jorsling (Defence Force)
Once he is on the park, you will know he is there. He has real presence and he always looks like he would score. He has a talent that plenty Trinidadians don’t have and that’s his free kicks. He kicks free kicks like he practises everyday and he doesn’t—that adds to his game.
Once he is around the box and you don’t mark him closely, he would score. He is one of the best finishers I ever coached.
And who were the three most dangerous Pro League players you ever faced?
Forward: Kerry Baptiste (Joe Public, San Juan Jabloteh)
He is a very tricky player and he knows where to be to score. It would seem as though he is out of the game and he would just pop up and hurt you.
When he’s on the field, you’re always begging your players to keep an eye on him. Somehow, he would always find a way to influence the game.
Winger: Josh Johnson (San Juan Jabloteh)
He was very, very tricky and he had great speed and an excellent understanding of when to cross early and when to go past his marker. He only spent about three years in the Pro League and then went away—but when he was there and you came up against him, you knew your wingers had to stay home on that day!
Josh could run up and down the line whole day and never seemed to get tired.
Playmaker: Joevin Jones (W Connection)
He was a torment to ‘Army’ when I was there. I think Joevin was a match winner. Once he is on the park, you have to pay attention to him. He was very decisive and he had a shot with a real quick back-lift. You wouldn’t even know he was preparing to shoot and the ball would already be flying to goal. He is a lot quicker than you might think too.
The year we lost the title to Connection [in 2013-14], we played as well as we could but he would just always come with something special. He was just outstanding.
And if you had to pick one stand-out individual performance from one of your players, which would it be?
It was a thriller against Ma Pau SC in 2009. I was on one side and [the late Michael] McComie on the other side. We won 3-2 and Kevon Carter got the winning goal with a flick.
Ma Pau had a star studded team with Lyndon ‘Chubby’ Andrews, Curtis Gonzales, Kevon Molino—fellahs who know the game and know how to work [the ball] and I just took over my team. It was a real game to see and everybody left the stadium happy.
To be honest, it was more of a team effort but Carter was doing well and tormenting their defence. He wasn’t a known goal scorer and he got the winner for us. I remember it was a cross from Akile and Carter just flicked it from behind his foot.
Knowing Carter, he doesn’t normally try things like that; but maybe with all the hype of the match, he decided to try it. And it worked!
RELATED NEWS
Pro League All-Stars: Fenwick goes for Whitley, ‘Nellie’, two shades of Gray and a dash of ‘Ganja’
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
On Thursday, Club Sando head coach Angus Eve selected the best XI players he ever worked with in the Pro League. Today, Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Terry Fenwick takes the stage.
A former 1986 World Cup defender for England and Tottenham Spurs captain, Fenwick managed English second tier club, Portsmouth, before San Juan Jabloteh—then funded by Clico boss Laurence Duprey—hired him. He went on to win Pro League and Caribbean Cup titles for not only Jabloteh but Central FC as well.
Wired868: What was your favourite season as a Pro League coach?
Fenwick: That would be my second season here in 2001 when I won my first league title. I came here at San Juan Jabloteh in 2000 and met a side that was getting on in age—there were a lot of older players in the league back then. For me, there was no structure to the football. You’d get the ball and play and then the other team would get the ball and play.
My players were set in their ways and I could see they were frustrated with how I wanted to play. We came fifth out of eight teams that season. But while we were playing, I was looking across the country for talent. I brought in Kelvin Jack and Nigel Daniel from Doc’s Khelwalaas. I brought in Collin Samuel from Mayaro and Trent Noel who was a centre forward at Police. And I promoted Josh Johnson, Kerry Baptiste and Devon Mitchell from our youth team.
We went into the second season with a very young team and just blew everybody away. Only W Connection were able to hold their own against us and they were full of Brazilians at the time. That would have to be my favourite season. We changed the way everyone thought about football in the league because we were fitter, stronger and faster than everybody.
Aurtis Whitley was my standout player. He was a real talent and he could do tricks with the ball that you couldn’t believe. I remember Aurtis and his best friend Joseph ‘Gouti’ Peters were inseparable; and in that first season both of them came late to training on multiple times. I felt they were not good influences on each other, so I waited for my opportunity and I fired ‘Gouti’.
Both were good players but Aurtis was better. By firing Peters, I hoped it sent the right message to Aurtis. I don’t know if Aurtis would have gone on to be the player he became if I hadn’t done that.
Well, go then. Give us your all-star team:
Goalkeeper: Kelvin Jack (San Juan Jabloteh)
He was huge—built like a brick shithouse. He was always very competitive, even in training. He didn’t want to lose anything! One of my first conversations with him, I had to ask him to occasionally give his defenders the benefit of the doubt and a bit of praise. He would roar at them for everything and scare the life out of them! I think he took it on board. We played a very high defensive line and he was great at one on ones.
Right back: Cyd Gray (San Juan Jabloteh)
He was a great defender. Full of energy, quick, good on the tackle and could get forward. He was limited on the ball so I had him doing just three things: one was a pass back to the goalkeeper, two inside to Aurtis Whitley or three was up the line to Josh Johnson—running behind the full back. Josh would come inside [from the right flank] and spin and run diagonally behind the full back to get that pass and we would kill W Connection with it every time.
Cyd became more comfortable when played because he knew exactly what to do when he was on the ball.
Defender: Robert Primus (San Juan Jabloteh)
He was 16 when he made his debut for us and won his first title at 17 alongside [Joel Leslie] Russell. He was a great athlete, strong and big for his age. He took on board everything. [With] some players, it takes a while for new habits to form and stick but he learned fast—things I told him once would stick. He couldn’t be beaten one against one. He had a good voice for a young man. If not for injuries, he could have done so much better.
Defender: Ian Gray (San Juan Jabloteh)
He was a brute of a man and quick across the ground. He would come second only to Josh Johnson in our cross country runs. He wanted to win in every session, he was dedicated and would be on time to everything. He took a long time to come out of his shell and understand his quality. I had to have him understand that he was not only as good as the others but better than most. When he did break through, teams didn’t want to play against him anymore.
He was good on the ball, quick and knew when to press and when to drop off.
Left back: Nigel ‘Ganja’ Daniel (San Juan Jabloteh)
He was a great defender, great at one on one situations and a great communicator. I was forever fighting him down because he was a left back who wanted to be a centre forward! I limited my back four to two touches in their own half. I told them the earlier your teammate receives [the ball], the bigger picture [of the field] he had. But when it reached Daniel, he would always want a third touch; and i would be screaming at him ‘pass’!
He would be third behind Ian Gray in cross-countries and was an excellent left back but he always wanted to do more going forward and he scored a couple of goals too. I may have frustrated him as a coach because I wanted him to do his defensive work first.
Central midfield: Trent Noel (San Juan Jabloteh)
He was a centre forward at Police FC; but he had a lovely touch, his weight of pass was excellent and he had great appreciation for where his teammates were. He wasn’t the quickest and couldn’t get away from anybody but I saw how he used the pockets of space. I could also hear him sharing great information with his teammates [at Police] and I liked his attitude.
I met him at Crowne Plaza and told him I wanted to use his values in midfield. He was somebody you coached on something and by the end of the week it was ingrained in his game. A good leader.
Central midfielder: Marvin Oliver (San Juan Jabloteh and Central FC)
Marvin came to Jabloteh as a big player. He was full of confidence, could play anywhere you wanted him to and a leader. He was one of them who wanted to run all over the field and wanted the ball all the time; and I reduced his game into certain areas of the field where we would get the full benefit of his skill set.
He could score goals and had good presence. He should have gotten many more caps for Trinidad and Tobago in my opinion. You couldn’t get the ball off him, good range of passing and his leadership was always positive.
When big occasions came around, he always stepped up.
Playmaker: Aurtis Whitley (San Juan Jabloteh)
I played [for Tottenham] with who I thought was the best ever player in the Premier League, Paul Gascoigne. The only player I have worked with who had more skills than ‘Gazza’ was Aurtis Whitley! His range of passing and skill was great, he could do things with the ball that even Gazza couldn’t. He could have three players around him and scoop it into the air and take it on the other side of all of them.
What he didn’t have was the tough mentality. He was very inward and shy. I remember when I drove to his house in Laventille and we had to park at the bottom of a hill and the two of us climbed up a grass bank to this shack that just had rags to cover where the windows should have been. It was such a wake up call for me. Wow! This is where this boy lives. But such was the ability of him that he used football to make a better life for himself and his family.
He was a phenomenal player. He could do everything with both feet. He could play that holding role in front of the back four; or if I needed a goal, I could push him further up the field. I told you that I only wanted players to have two touches in the defensive third of the field. The only player I allowed more than two touches was Aurtis Whitley because nobody could take the ball off him!
In time, I brought leadership values out of him because he was not a confident young man. The job he did for Trinidad [in the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign] showed how far he had come. He became such a disciplined player, compared to the boy I first met who would be running all over the place doing tricks to entertain the crowd.
Right winger: Jason Marcano (San Juan Jabloteh and Central FC)
Jason Marcano was the world’s worst player to coach because he always wanted to do his own thing! (Laughs) Everything was like a fete match for him. But he was a terrific talent, great on the ball and he would run all 90 minutes without a problem. He was a good character and a really nice kid—someone who everybody got on with. ‘Nellie’ they called him.
If he was a bit more disciplined, he could have done more than he did. He always had his finger in something else. I called him the ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ because he always had some other business he was involved with! (Laughs) But lovely fellah and good for the dressing room. He always had a joke and a story to tell.
Forward: Peter Byers (San Juan Jabloteh)
Six foot one, built like a brick shithouse, great on the ball, thunder in both feet, could hold the ball up… Defenders had to drop off him because he would not only be faster than you but he would outmuscle you. He would take the ball and run at you, he had tricks and could smash it with right or left foot.
He was not the brightest; you had to add movement to his game. I think he was a little mentally weak and needed a kick up the backside to get the best out of him—I think that held him back. But he was a real force. About 95 percent of the players I’ve used here were from Trinidad and Tobago and he is from Antigua. But he was a handful.
Left winger: Collin Samuel (San Juan Jabloteh)
Collin was predominantly right footed but I played him on the left side. He had a solid build, quick as lightening and he had so much power that everything from his right foot was a bullet. He could shoot from distance and it was often too hot for the keeper to handle, so we would score from the knock downs.
He had nice movement. He was bright, quick, strong and he worked his socks off. He would out-tackle fullbacks!
Wired868: And who were the three most dangerous players you faced as a Pro League coach?
Playmaker: Gefferson Goulart (W Connection)
He was a very crafty player. He would look to get into those pockets of space and his attention to detail was great. He was always looking for that killer pass and he had a blinding free kick.
When I played practice games before facing Connection, we would give a boy the bib and say he was Goulart and everyone would have to react differently to him when he got the ball. I’ve never had to do anything like that for any other player.
Forward: Devorn Jorsling (Defence Force)
He was great at holding up the ball, squat, great left foot. He didn’t have that turn of pace, so when we played ‘Army’ I would tell my defenders not to drop deeper than the centre circle. We knew in and around the box he would be strong enough to get his shot off, so we would try to keep him as far away from our penalty area as possible.
But of course that wasn’t always possible. He was a great goal scorer.
Forward: Trevin Caesar (North East Stars)
He was quick and he was a goal scorer—give him half a chance and he would hit the target. They would often play him upfront on his own, so he had a thankless task; but you couldn’t take your eye off him.
In Trinidad, some of the bigger name players who people rated would nutmeg someone and make the crowd roar; but then you wouldn’t see anything else from them for another 20 minutes or so. Whereas a player like Caesar was always a threat.
Wired868: And the best individual performance from one of your players?
Fenwick: Kerry Noray! We beat Connection 4-2 down at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium—it must have been 2005 or 2006. Kerry was a spindly, skinny kid and they were a big team with guys like Atiba Charles at the back. And Kerry ran them ragged that day!
We had two wingers stay really high and I would ask Kerry to drop into midfield with two midfielders running behind him. He was great on the ball and he would have these spins and turns that were hard to read. And talk about tenacity—this little fellah would out tackle big defenders!
On that day, he was unstoppable and we slaughtered them. I remember it was 3-0 when we came off at halftime and the crowd was just silent. In the end, I think Cornell Glenn and Josh Johnson scored once each and Kerry scored two. We played them off the park!
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Pro League All-Stars: King opts for Power, Baptiste and TTT—Trent, Tinto and Theobald.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Derek King won his first Pro League title as head coach at just 29 years of age, which made him the youngest success story in Trinidad and Tobago’s domestic football history.
King is one of only two coaches to win the Pro League title for two different clubs (Joe Public and North East Stars)—along with Terry Fenwick (San Juan Jabloteh and Central FC)—and the only one to scoop up a Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) crown for good measure too at FC Santa Rosa.
So King, who is also the last coach to win an international trophy for the Soca Warriors which he did at the 2014 Under-20 Caribbean Cup, follows Angus Eve, Terry Fenwick and Ross Russell in Wired868’s Pro League All-Star series.
Wired868: Tell us about your favourite season as a club coach?
King: I think that would be the 2009 season with Joe Public [when I won my first title in my first full season as head coach]. I started my job close to the end of the previous season when they let go coach [Keith] Griffith and fired several players—so it really wasn’t a good ending to the season.
I don’t think our management team believed that we would do so well because I was an inexperienced coach and the youngest to coach in the Pro League. That year, our first final was against Defence Force and we lost in the last minute to an easy goal. It was heartbreaking and that was the turning point. The guys realised that we could do it.
We had a really young squad with some players who hadn’t even played at Pro League level before like Micah Lewis, Kareem Young and Keion Goodridge. We brought in Gorean Highley, who everyone thought wouldn’t last the whole season because of disciplinary problems.
That same year the [Pro League] banned eight of our players for five games after [a brawl] at the Petrotrin ground in Palo Seco—but everything just brought our guys closer together.
I remember we would go to the beach and play cricket or have a day when the boys would cook for everyone. Those are things I brought in to the club and there was a real togetherness.
I think Kerry [Baptiste] scored about 50 goals for us that season (with 35 goals in the league). When Kerry came [to Public], we had him as a winger but I remember we played a few games in pre-season and we weren’t getting any goals. So I spoke to him and said we are missing a goal scorer and he said: “Coach man, no problem. Anywhere the team wants me to play, I will play.”
Okay, so between Public and Stars, which were your best XI players?
Goalkeeper: Alejandro Figueroa (Joe Public)
He was a Colombian and had already been in the league for a while at W Connection. He brought leadership and he was outstanding with his feet. We had a bonus for shut-outs and that motivated him too. He worked hard and always wanted to be number one and his communication with his backline was outstanding.
I also worked with Marvin [Phillip] who was really good but I would go with Figueroa.
Right back: Seon Power (Joe Public)
Seon was a workhorse. He was great with his head and he could read the game. He played right back but I’d use him at centre back or left back too. He was very athletic and I used to say he was our Cafu going forward as he was a good passer of the ball. We were sure on set pieces that we would get goals with him.
Central defender: Yohance Marshall (North East Stars)
He wasn’t the fastest but then he wasn’t the youngest when I worked with him. He brought good leadership qualities. He was very professional when it came to training. He never missed a day and would always stay back for extra work.
He was good at reading the game, very good in the air and very good from set pieces. I think he will go on to be a good coach.
Central defender: Carlyle Mitchell (Joe Public)
He was a striker at Caledonia and when he came [and saw] the players we had on top, he offered to play centre back and he did well in a practice game. So I played him at centre back with the professional team and as a striker with the reserve team, since he was young enough to play both.
He is an all-round footballer and very good with his head. He and Seon scored a lot from set plays.
Left back: Jameel Neptune (North East Stars)
It was a close fight between Jameel and Keion Goodridge for this spot. But I’d pick Jameel because of what he would bring to the team going forward.
He was not one of the best technically but he was a fighter. You were sure to get 100 from him every game. He wasn’t the best defensively because he preferred to go forward but he always contributed and he would play anywhere for the team.
Holding midfielder: Densill Theobald (North East Stars)
Densill was part of my old brigade at Stars. I played with him and we already had a good relationship. He was smooth, brought excellent experience and had a good vision of the game. He wasn’t the fastest but he always knew when and how to show for the ball and never, ever got caught in possession.
He would keep it simple, work hard and would be the last to leave after training. It was a close call for that spot with Kevon Goddard who is also a player I admire a lot. I call Goddard my ‘pitbull’. He would also get the job done. But I would go with Densill.
Midfielder: Trent Noel (Joe Public)
Trent brought calmness on the park. He could pass the ball and read the game. Again not the quickest but his tactical awareness and first touch were awesome—he always knew what his next play was and would never get caught on the ball.
And on dead ball situations, the keeper would have to make a brilliant save or he would score. He was our ‘Rolls Royce’ in midfield. Smooth, calm and collective.
Midfielder: Yu Hoshide (Joe Public)
He was the unknown. (Laughs). He was really professional, his movement off the ball was outstanding and he was tactically sound. He was one of the best passers on the team and also a free kick specialist. Teams feared us on set pieces because we had Kerry [Baptiste], Trent and him who could all kick them.
He was the first Japanese to play in the Pro League. He was playing in the US lower divisions and saw info about the club on the internet and got on to us and said he was willing to pay his own way to come for a trial. The rest was history.
Right wing: Akeem ‘Froggy’ Garcia (North East Stars)
I’d worked with him before at the National Under-20 level and brought him to North East. Technically, he is not one of the best but he is excellent down either flank. He knows when to go, when to stay, when to combine with midfield and he can get goals.
He works very hard and is always a threat. He could also play on either flank or as a 10 or 9—these are guys you always want in your squad. He was very direct.
Left wing: Hayden Tinto (Joe Public)
That 2009 season was Tinto’s breakaway year—he was outstanding! He brought a certain flair with his step-overs and his first touch was outstanding. You could hit that ball into him at any speed and be sure he could take it.
He was never a player to score many goals but that season he was on a high and he got a few. People would come just to see him play football and with the players he had around him, it got the most out of him that season. He was outstanding.
Forward: Kerry Baptiste (Joe Public)
Kerry was just a natural goal scorer. He was similar to Ian Rush in that he was always there where he would have to be. Nothing flashy; he was a sensible player and he would trick defenders to get into the right space before they did.
He always played within his strengths and would be just alert for his chance. He was an outstanding finisher and he was the captain of my team.
Wired868: And who were the three most dangerous players you faced as a Pro League coach?
King: First, let me just say the other players who came close to my XI. We had: Elton John, Andre Toussaint, Kishun Seecharan, Julius James, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Keston George…
Wired868: That’s cheating! But okay, tell us about the players who gave you nightmares now…
Strike partnership: Devorn Jorsling and Richard Roy (Defence Force)
In the 2009 season, Jorsling would hold the ball up well while Roy, who was faster and more direct, would compliment him and was like lightening down the channels. They were like Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke—when you tried to watch one, the other would hurt you!
They gave the whole league trouble that year and Jorsling scored in practically every game. And if he didn’t score, then Roy scored two!
Forward: Marcus Joseph (W Connection)
I think he is one of the top local goal scorers. I coached him and he is a guy who doesn’t really play to instructions. I think W left him to play as the out and out striker and allowed him to just let him do what he wanted.
It is hard to plan for him. He would pop up in midfield or just about anywhere on the field; and if you give him any space he would hurt you!
He could shoot from any distance. I think we would all love to see him do that for the National Senior Team and only time will tell. He still has maybe a few years left.
Midfielder: Joevin Jones (W Connection)
We always had a fight with him. He was young in those days but you could tell he would go on to great things.
He was always capable of doing something special and he has a good footballing brain. He was quality from day one.
And the most memorable performance from one of your players?
King: This is a tough one. But I would go with Yuh Hoshide’s debut at the Marvin Lee Stadium—I think it was against Caledonia. He had been training with us for about two weeks and had done an interview in the local media.
That day the Marvin Lee [Stadium] was full with people who wanted to see him. Those were the days when crowds would come out to watch football. If you reached late, you had to park past the bus route or in Macoya because all the streets around the ground would be full!
The fans were singing: bring on the Japanese! And they were clapping for him every time he got up to warm up. (Laughs). We brought him for about 15 minutes and with his first touch, he received the ball and made a through ball forward for Tinto and we almost got a goal. The crowd went crazy!
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Pro League All-Stars: Shabazz picks Densill, ‘Tiny’, Conrad, Radanfah and that combative ‘Wretch’
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Hyron Best, a former St Augustine Secondary goalkeeper, was still an active player when he attended his first coaching course in Brazil in 1986, after his hometown club, then named Caledonia AIA, helped raise funds for the trip.
More than three decades later, he has since taken on the name, Jamaal Shabazz, the team is now called Morvant Caledonia United and he is not only a household name within local football circles but is also on his third national senior team coaching job in St Lucia—following reasonably successful stints in charge of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
Shabazz never lead Caledonia to the Pro League title but he helped the ‘Eastern Stallions’ win everything else, including the 2012 Caribbean Club Championship.
Today, he becomes the fifth coach invited by Wired868 to select his Pro League All-Star selection, after Angus Eve, Terry Fenwick, Ross Russell and Derek King. Shabazz, who now operates as Morvant Caledonia technical director, made his picks in tandem with head coach Jerry Moe.
Wired868: First, tell us about your favourite season as a club coach?
Shabazz: That would be the 2011/12 season when we won the Caribbean Club Championship and finished just two points behind [winners] W Connection in the Pro League. We also won all three knock out competitions: the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, the First Citizens Cup and the TTFF FA Trophy.
In that same season, Guyana eliminated Trinidad and Tobago [in the 2014 World Cup qualifying series]; and I was Guyana coach and had a whole heap of Guyanese players [in the Caledonia team], so it was a real bumper year for me and the club.
That was the first time that Caledonia were able to attract real quality players. We took [World Youth Cup players] Jean-Luc Rochford, Aubrey David and Daneil Cyrus on loan from FC Santa Rosa. (That time the relationship with Keith Look Loy was very good.)
And we had players like Charles Pollard, Walter Moore, Radanfah Abu Bakr, the late Nuru Muhammad and Devorn Jorsling and upcoming talent like Ataulla Guerra. And of course our normal stalwarts like Densill Theobald, Akim Armstrong and Abdallah Phillips. [Former World Youth Cup forward] Jamal Gay was with us too.
We had good talent and a big squad and I think the key to that was we had sponsorship at the time from NLCB, so the wage bill was being met. Normally as coach I had to go hunt for [funds] on a monthly basis; but we had a solid arrangement with Massy Motors and NLCB as well as government funding—and that ensured we were able to meet our bills.
We never had sponsorship to that magnitude again. In that period, we were able to buy a bus, which was one of our proudest achievements! We didn’t just let that money pass through our hands and have nothing to show for it.
Right now, the bus is under repair after an accident last year and we are about TT$35,000 away from getting it back on the road. But I remember the joy we had when we bought the bus from Massy. We went to Morvant Junction and for the whole evening we were picking up people and dropping them home for free, until the taxi drivers started to complain! (Laughs)
Louis Lee Sing, the NLCB chairman, was instrumental in giving us guidance to make that purchase and we worked out a unique deduction arrangement with Massy [from our sponsorship with them] to get it. And even then, we had to ask our senior players and coaches to give up between TT$500 to $700 a month from their salaries so we could afford it.
I remember we would let Solo Harmonites, Carib Tokyo and any community group use the bus for free—all they had to do was agree to put in the diesel!
But back to the football. We had several players who stood out that season like Cyrus and Abdallah and Akim. But I think Conrad Smith was our standout player that year.
Okay then, which XI players did you and Moe come up with…
Goalkeeper: Glenroy Samuel
Glenroy was very competitive and very ambitious and wanted to be the next top keeper in the country, even though his attitude needed a lot of management over the three years he was with us. He didn’t get along with other players. He was younger than they were and he would come off as an upstart…
But he pulled off so many saves for us that looked sure goals—it felt like I was watching Earl Carter, Michael Maurice or John Granville! He was agile and a great shot stopper.
Right back: Kareem ‘Tiny’ Joseph
‘Tiny’ is one of the success stories for Caledonia on a community level. He came to us at 15 or 16 as a forward but we had so many forwards at the time already and my philosophy—which I learned at courses in Brazil in 1986 and 1989—was to have wing backs overlapping all the time.
We did a lot of work with him so he knew the timing to overlap and his positioning; and he bought in to it. In the 2011/12 season, he and [left back] Walter Moore had about 13 goals between them.
Apart from his athleticism, he was a penalty specialist and would practice his penalties religiously after every training. And what I admired with him is he would take only one penalty, just like in the game.
One time, [then Clico San Juan Jabloteh coach] Terry Fenwick who had an unlimited budget tried to steal him from us for his qualities as a wingback, which we took as such a compliment for the work we put in. But of course we fought to keep him; and we did. We ent going to willingly lose players like that!
Defender: Charles Pollard
Pollard was one of my Guyanese internationals and he offered strong leadership. He was similar to Densill in being that person who would ensure on the field that the team tried to play in the way that they prepared and practiced.
We liked to build up from the back and he had the character and personality to put the ball down and play. He was not the quickest but he was solid because of his positional sense and one on one defending.
Defender: Radanfah Abu Bakr
He was a natural leader and very composed. During the time he played with us, he showed good maturity, good passing range and wonderful understanding of how to manage the line, as in when to push up and when to drop off. He has a goal in his free kicks and he could go up in the last minute and get you a goal from set plays.
When the chips are down, he was never one to put his head down, even when he wasn’t doing well—that is a quality that made him stand out, along with his ability as a player.
He had a good attitude towards training. He would train in Ramadan twice a day, even when he was fasting. He would just suck it up.
Left back: Walter Moore
His dribbling, crossing ability and work rate made him stand out as a wingback. When we had Sheldon Emmanuel, we would have them both on the left flank with one playing midfield and the other as wingback and they would alternate during the game.
Walter went to Finland in 2012 and had a distinguished career. He now works as a youth coach at his last club there. He is definitely one of our success stories.
Holding midfielder: Stephan ‘Wretch’ David
He was not a vociferous captain but he led by example. In a season, he would miss just two sessions and one would be so that he could renew his passport and two would be to register his daughter at school or something. When you compare that to the things these younger players miss training for!
On the field, he offered stability. He was always backward of square to Densill, ready to relieve pressure and switch the angle of attack. Everyone wants to get forward quickly but he understand how to stay behind the ball a few seconds longer, to be a free option. He had strong tackling ability and was very, very combative for a quiet guy and very, very dependable.
As part of a project with Massy, we had him split time between work there and training with the club and today he works in their admin department.
Right side midfielder: Abdallah Phillips
Like ‘Tiny’, Abdallah was a very dazzling dribbler, quick and he had the ability to always get in the cross… They used to call him ‘kut kut’, which was really ‘cut cut’. (Laughs). That is because of the way he would [dribble with] the ball by chopping inside of his right foot and left foot.
When we found him, he was playing with TSTT in the [North] Zone. But being a muslim and from the hood, we felt a certain rights to him and were able to convince him to try this thing with us instead of an 8 to 4 job.
He has been instrumental to the club over the years and his understanding with Tiny as far as when to come in [off the flank] and leave the space for him to overlap was: wow!
Central midfielder: Densill Theobald
Densill provided stability on and off the pitch, more-so after he went to the [2006] World Cup. He hated to make a bad pass! He had a good eye for the simple ball and his work rate and fitness were always tremendous.
He didn’t score a tonne of goals but he provided tremendous stability and leadership. He was always a player we could count on to go the distance in every game; and for the whole season he would play 30 games out of the 35.
He was like a captain in the team although he wasn’t the captain.
Left side midfielder: Sheldon Emmanuel
Don’t hold me to his position. This is a curry favour pick! (Laughs) I had to find a place for him somewhere!
He was very aggressive and indomitable. I remember after three years, Terry Fenwick wanted him for Jabloteh and I sent a message to Jabloteh: ‘it will have problems with this one’! (Laughs) I remember [W Connection coach] Stuart Charles telling us that ‘Shellie’ really matured under you guys and it is time for you to let him go to a club in a different environment. And I said, ‘yes, in a different country’! (Laughs).
He was a St Lucia international and was very disciplined and committed and had a great work rate… He would give his life for you on the pitch!
Playmaker: Conrad Smith
Conrad is the ultimate child of Caledonia. We found him roaming the St George’s ground in Barataria and noticed that we would see him there in the morning and then come back in the evening and he was still there. I said ‘youth, you don’t go to school?’ And he said ‘not really’. He was about 13 at the time.
Club official Humphrey Brann and myself went to see his mother there and then and we virtually adopted him! I still consider him as my son.
He was not a quick player but he was very technical. He had the ability to play with his back to the defence but he was also dangerous coming at you. He had a ‘spanner’ with his left foot or right foot, he could score goals and he was very, very confident on the ball.
As a homegrown talent, he gave confidence to the team in the big matches. He would be the one player who, when we were under pressure, could do something fancy on the ball to neutralise the crowd and give his teammates a lift.
Unlike Densill, he didn’t deal too well with disappointment. Maybe because of his background, we overdid it and sheltered him too much. He always needed that shoulder; and at times when he didn’t make the national team he was devastated and it took a lot to get him motivated again.
He played for [Brazilian] Rene Simoes’ National Under-23 Team and he played on the Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team for Stuart [Charles-Fevrier] and [Dutchman] Wim Rijsbergen but didn’t go on to do as well for his country as he should have.
Still he was a symbol of Caledonia, just like the late Shahdon Winchester was for W Connection. He was a helluva player for us!
Forward: Sheldon Holder
Sheldon was one of the first players that I brought straight from Guyana to play for us. Most of the others like Pollard and Walter were already here with other clubs. I think he came in 2012 and scored in each of his first three games! We never had to help him with his confidence just because he’s come to the ‘New York of the Caribbean’. (Laughs).
He is not the strongest of players but very dangerous with the ball at his feet and running into spaces. Once he is fit, he can be downright disrespectful to defenders!
We have never really focused our game around a centre forward at Caledonia, as we usually attack down the flanks and don’t focus on one outlet for goals. But Sheldon has been a force for us. He scored some really important goals for us.
Wired868: Okay, tell us about the three most dangerous players you two faced in the Pro League?
Midfielder: Aurtis Whitley (San Juan Jabloteh)
He scored important goals for Jabloteh and was one of the players who was incessant against us offensively.
Remember he is one of us. He played youth football for ‘Cale’ for about two seasons and he lived right in Malick. The ‘dons’ in the area would always say to me: ‘go and get Aurtis we would pay him’. But for me the money from the dons wasn’t stable and the fact that none of them are alive today speaks to that. (Laughs).
Aurtis was a thorn in our side. As a youth player for Maple, I remember I would have sleepless nights when I knew I had to face players like Bert Neptune, Nevick Denoon and Brian John. Aurtis instilled that same kind of terror in us because, just like them, he always found a way to be effective.
Midfielder: Marvin Oliver (San Juan Jabloteh and Central FC)
He played one season with us and was the Pro League MVP but we couldn’t keep him from joining Fenwick at Jabloteh. His ability to play with his back to the defence and from dead ball situations and with the ball on his feet was so impressive; but mostly he stood out for his general spirit of combativeness.
He came from where we came from and he had just that little extra aggression. When it was 0-0 and in the 80th minute, you know Oliver was going to find a way to hurt you!
He reminded me of that Bob Marley song: you will tired to see his face/but you can’t get him out of the race!
I think the clubs he went to didn’t fight enough to get him on the national team. Okay, he was deported; but he was not a terrorist or a threat—he just overstayed his time. Sometimes the status quo in the football are so stuck up that they don’t understand you have to do extra for a player.
Marvin was an annoyance as an opponent. He understood how to compete.
Forward: Devorn Jorsling (Defence Force)
Jorsling also played for Caledonia and after a stint in the United States when he came back to us, the Defence Force said it was now or never in terms of him returning to the army—and he didn’t want to go. I had to tell him that if he didn’t go, he couldn’t play with us!
As an opponent, his close control, ability to finish and his free kicks were a constant threat. The fact that he was left footed was awkward for defenders. Defenders are accustomed to meeting right footed forwards and he had this trick where he would post up with his right foot and then switch to his left at the last minute to score.
When we played Defence Force, we would let our keeper know he had to cheat a little bit for free kicks, we would ask ‘Wretch’ to drop back a little deeper so they couldn’t play the ball into Jorsling, and we would ask our players to press ‘Army’ high up the pitch so they would have to kick the ball long and Jorsling couldn’t get it. We would have to change our entire plan just for him!
We didn’t want him to get the ball in the build up phase and we certainly didn’t want him to get the ball in and around the box!
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De Pro League had nuff good players, too much to choose just 22.
Kelvin Jack, Renato Periera, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Aurtis Whitley, Keron Cummings, Joevin Jones, Gefferson Goulart, Arnold Dwarika, Yu Hoshide, Cornell Glen, Gregory Richardson, Alejandro Figueroa, Khaleem Hyland, Julius James, Jan-Michael Williams, Keon Daniel, Dale Saunders, Keyeno Thomas, Trent Noel, Anton Pierre, Andrei Pacheco, Andre Toussaint, Marvin Oliver, Williams Silva de Oliveira, Jonathan Frias, Densill Theoblad, Stephan David, Kerry Baptiste, Jonathan Frias, Angus Eve, Jose Luis Seabra, Charles Pollard, Jason Marcano, Anthony Noriega, Collie Hercules, Carey Harris, Reon Nelson, Seon Power, Gerrard Williams, Earl Jean, Silvio Spann, Ronaldo Viana, Reynold Carrington, David Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Jerren Nixon, Hughton Hector, Peter Byers, Randolph Jerome.
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Arnold Dwarika and Jerren Nixon in particular scored de most goals in de league history alongside Devorn Jorsling and them men eh get pick.
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Arnold Dwarika and Jerren Nixon in particular scored de most goals in de league history alongside Devorn Jorsling and them men eh get pick.
Remember, is only who dem fellas coach.